As columns of poor Palestinians return to northern Gaza

As columns of  poor Palestinians return to northern Gaza, US President Donald Trump's  proposal to "clean  up" the  war-torn strip and relocate its  residents to Egypt and Jordan has  sparked a  storm of criticism  around the  world.
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More surprisingly, the US's most ardent Arab allies have joined in the  condemnation.
While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  – the region's two economic  heavyweights and  considered closest to Trump  – have  remained officially silent, they have  expressed their  displeasure.
Media outlets in both countries known  for being close to the state have been  full of articles and  editorials condemning the president's  comments.
Abu Dhabi  normalised relations with Israel during Trump's first term, and Riyadh has  said it is willing to do so under certain conditions.  However, for  both parties, his proposal  poses a direct  threat to national security.
In addition to destabilizing Egypt and Jordan,  American talk of  expelling Palestinians from their homeland after the 15-month war  between Israel and Hamas is seen as vindication by those  who have long  condemned the UAE and Saudi Arabia for  betraying the Palestinian  cause.
This includes Iran and  the militant groups Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, all of  whom have rushed to  attack Trump  over his  proposal.
The Israeli government  launched a similar plan after  the Hamas attack on October 7,  2023. The issue is likely to  return to the agenda when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington next  week.
Trump and Netanyahu in Washington in 2020.  Photograph: Alex Wong/Getty  Images
However, Saudi Arabia's  ambassador to the UK, Prince Khalid bin Bandar, made it  clear, without directly  responding to Trump's  comments, that his government expects  the Palestinians to  stand their ground.
Not only that, but ensuring they have their own state is a  prerequisite for Saudi  Arabia to  join Trump's push  to include Riyadh in  the post-war reconstruction of Gaza and normalization with  Israel.
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"Saudi Arabia  doesn't speak  out often in public," he told Times Radio on Monday.  "But when  this happens, we say what we mean and we mean what we  say." - Sam Dagher

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