Palestinians Flee Israeli Fire as Trump’s Gaza Remarks Spark Regional Outrage

Dramatic images from the central Gaza Strip show Palestinians — including children — sprinting for cover amid bursts of Israeli gunfire, as thousands continue their northward movement under the current ceasefire. Though no immediate casualties have been confirmed, the photos capture the fear and devastation surrounding the return of displaced families to areas marked by widespread destruction.

Meanwhile, Israel has verified earlier reports that eight of the hostages scheduled for release under the first phase of the ceasefire have been killed, a figure consistent with Hamas’ own account. According to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer, a list provided by Hamas identifies 25 hostages as alive and eight deceased, confirming that the remains of the dead will be handed over along with the living captives.

At the same time, remarks by US President Donald Trump have ignited outrage across the Middle East. Trump suggested that Gazans should be relocated to Egypt and Jordan to “clean out” Gaza — calling the war-ravaged enclave a “demolition site.” He further proposed that the displacement could be either “temporary or long-term,” and hinted at U.S. cooperation with Arab nations to build housing “where Gazans could live in peace for a change.”

Analysts and officials in Jordan and Egypt have condemned the comments as dangerous and destabilizing. Oraib Rantawi, director of the Al Quds Center for Political Studies in Amman, labeled the idea “a hostile position” that threatens to “liquidate the Palestinian cause” at the expense of neighboring states. He warned that such proposals could trigger new waves of forced displacement, recalling the trauma of the Nakba — the 1948 mass exodus of Palestinians during Israel’s creation.

Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed the country’s unwavering stance, declaring: “Our rejection of the displacement of Palestinians is firm and will not change. Jordan is for Jordanians, and Palestine is for Palestinians.”

Rantawi also cautioned that Trump’s suggestion could be a “poisoned gift” for Cairo and a “pressure tactic” for Amman, potentially undermining both countries’ internal stability. The controversy follows Washington’s recent decision to freeze most foreign aid, excluding Egypt and Israel — a move that has further deepened tensions in the region.