Jordan condemns Israel’s approval of new agency for Palestinian displacement

By Alperen Aktas and Laith Al-jnaidi

ISTANBUL/AMMAN (AA) – Jordan on Sunday condemned Israel’s announcement of a new agency aimed at facilitating the displacement of Palestinians under the guise of "voluntary departure" from the Gaza Strip.

In a statement, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry denounced “in the strongest terms” Israel’s creation of the special agency.

The ministry also criticized Israel’s approval of the separation of 13 illegal settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank to formalize them as colonies.

“These actions are part of practices amounting to the forcible displacement of Palestinians from their occupied land,” the statement said, describing them as among the “forcible displacement crimes” against Palestinians.

Jordan reaffirmed its absolute rejection of Israel’s actions, condemning the government’s continued violations of international law and relevant UN resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2334.

The ministry urged the international community to “assume its legal and moral responsibilities” by compelling Israel to halt its attacks on Gaza and its escalation in the West Bank while ensuring the right of Palestinians to establish an independent state.

Israel’s security cabinet approved the establishment of the agency for Palestinian displacement over the weekend following a proposal by US President Donald Trump, despite widespread regional and international opposition to forced displacement.

Since Jan. 25, Trump has pushed for relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan—an initiative both nations have firmly rejected along with other Arab and European states as well as international organizations.

Israeli attacks on Gaza have intensified since last Tuesday, killing 674 Palestinians and injuring 1,233, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The escalation represents Israel’s most significant violation of a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian group Hamas, which Tel Aviv failed to implement after its first phase concluded in early March.

While Hamas adhered to all terms of the deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to proceed with the second phase under pressure from far-right members of his government.