Cairo, Egypt – Arab nations on Saturday rejected US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring Egypt and Jordan.

In a joint statement following a meeting in Cairo, the foreign ministers and officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League said such a move would threaten stability in the region, spread conflict and undermine prospects for peace.

“We affirm our rejection of [any attempts] to compromise Palestinians’ unalienable rights, whether through settlement activities, or evictions or annexation of land or through vacating land from its owners…in any form or under any circumstances or justifications,” a joint statement said, adding they looked forward to working with Trump’s administration to achieve a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on a two-state solution.

Last week, Trump said Egypt and Jordan should take in Palestinians from Gaza, which he called a “demolition site” following 15 months of Israeli bombardment that rendered most of its 2.3mn people homeless. Critics have called his suggestion tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Agencies