Tensions between the Arab world and the United States have escalated over recent warnings from US allies in the Middle East that forcing the Palestinians out of the region would lead to serious consequences.
In an unprecedented show of solidarity, protests have been erupting in many Arab countries, ranging from Kuwait and Bahrain to Lebanon and Jordan. In a rare move, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani issued a call for restraint, warning against any hasty decisions that might lead to further conflict and ‘being dragged into unrest’.
The warnings were seen as a direct challenge to US President Donald Trump, who has long discussed a potential ‘deal of the century’ to end the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As of now, the details of the deal remain unknown, with the US saying it is still under discussion.
Nonetheless, it has led to concerns among many Arab nations that it would eventually involve what amounts to a de facto expulsion of the Palestinians from the region. Such a move would be strongly opposed by Arab countries, which have long seen the Palestinians as part an integral part of Arab identity.
Leaders in the region have been vocal in their opposition to any potential deal that might involve forced displacement. And with protests now taking place in numerous Arab countries, the pressure on the US to back down appears to be intensifying.
How the situation will develop remains uncertain, but it is clear that the Arab world will not accept any attempts to undermine the Palestinians’ rights and international legitimacy. As Sheikh Tamim put it, the situation will remain “a heavy burden on Arab and Islamic countries until the Palestinian people are granted their rights”.