President Donald Trump’s plan to place Gaza under US control and transform the war-ravaged enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East” is unrealistic but has serious geopolitical implications. Washington’s relationships with Gulf Cooperation Council members are at stake, as all six Gulf Arab monarchies have denounced Trump’s calls for a “clean-out” of Gaza and the forced permanent displacement of roughly 2 million Palestinians into other Arab countries.

Since Trump announced his intentions for a large-scale expulsion of Gaza, all six GCC states have responded with strong statements affirming their support for a two-state solution and stressing the rights of Palestinians to remain in their land. Notably, Saudi Arabia’s state media platforms have shifted to a harsher tone toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while doubling down on the Palestinian issue’s importance to Riyadh’s foreign policy.

Trump’s plan for Gaza envisions Egypt and Jordan absorbing most of Gaza’s displaced population, a scenario that Gulf Arab monarchies recognize could lead to significant instability in the Middle East.

Gulf considerations for Egypt's and Jordan’s security