President Donald Trump's announcement that the United States will take long-term control over the Gaza Strip is sparking intense backlash from both allies and enemies in the Middle East.
Phones seemed to be ringing off the hook in the region's most powerful offices as national leaders swapped perspectives — almost universally concerned — about the White House's unexpected initiative to oversee the reconstruction of the area and move Palestinians to safer locations.
The Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a long statement rejecting any proposal that does not both keep Palestinians tied to their land and also establishes an independent, sovereign Palestinian state — the most prominent objection to Trump's plan.
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirms that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering," the Saudi government said in a statement Tuesday. "The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also reaffirms its unequivocal rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, land annexation, or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land."
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has repeatedly affirmed Palestinian sovereignty as a non-negotiable starting point for long-term agreements to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes that this unwavering position is non-negotiable and not subject to compromises," the Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry reiterated in the statement. "Achieving lasting and just peace is impossible without the Palestinian people obtaining their legitimate rights in accordance with international resolutions, as has been previously clarified to both the former and current U.S. administrations."
The Saudi crown prince spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan over the phone Wednesday. The Jordanian royal is already slated to meet with Trump on Feb. 11 and has joined the chorus of opposition to a U.S.-controlled Gaza Strip.
“His Majesty King Abdullah II stresses the need to put a stop to settlement expansion, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land and displace the Palestinians," the Royal Hashemite Court of Jordan said via social media.
He also hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Al Husseiniya Palace the same day, expressing "full support for the Palestinians in gaining their legitimate rights."
Abdullah later placed a phone call to United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, stressing "the importance of international support for the Palestinian people in gaining their legitimate rights."
Guterres said the plan to move Palestinians out of Gaza is a form of “ethnic cleansing” that would "make the problem worse," according to the secretary-general's spokesperson. The U.N. has continued to push for a two-state solution.
It was just one of many bilateral phone calls the king made Wednesday, according to updates on royal communications published by the Royal Hashemite Court. Abdullah also reached out to United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and others.
Qatar, a major non-NATO ally of the United States, has been the most gentle in its reaction to the Gaza plan, declining to take a firm stance and rhetorically kicking the can down the road until the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal is further fulfilled.
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“I don’t think it’s a time now to start commenting on specific ideas," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari told Fox News. “We know that there is a lot of trauma with the Palestinian side when it comes to displacement. However, again, it’s too early to talk about this because we don’t know how this war will end.”
Qatar is set to mediate Israel and Hamas's transition into the second phase of their ceasefire agreement, which is intended to facilitate the reconstruction of living conditions in the Gaza Strip.