By Saud Al-Sharafat / Director of Shorufat Center for Globalization and Terrorism Studies
Source: An-Nahar, Lebanon – October 19, 2025
On October 15, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a new peace plan for the Gaza Strip, presenting strategic opportunities for Jordan to strengthen its regional role and contribute to the reconstruction of the territory. While the plan offers significant economic and political prospects, it also imposes sensitive challenges on Jordan regarding national security, internal stability, and public opinion management.
The plan contains provisions that could benefit Jordan if effectively leveraged. It aims first to transform Gaza into a zone free of extremism and terrorism, thereby reducing direct security threats on Jordanian borders and easing the pressure on domestic security institutions. It also calls for the rehabilitation of infrastructure, hospitals, bakeries, and roads, facilitating the flow of humanitarian aid, mitigating economic and social burdens on Jordan, and providing opportunities to participate in reconstruction projects. This could strengthen regional economic cooperation and stimulate local growth.
The plan further proposes the establishment of a temporary international stabilization force responsible for training and supporting the Palestinian police in coordination with Jordan and Egypt, reflecting the vital role the Kingdom could play in maintaining security and preventing any vacuum that might be exploited by armed groups or weapon smuggling. Another provision includes a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza while ensuring that the Strip does not pose a threat to Jordan or Egypt, thus enhancing border stability and minimizing potential future security risks.
At the same time, Jordan faces growing domestic challenges regarding the plan. Public opinion surveys indicate significant reservations among youth and university students toward U.S. involvement in the Palestinian issue. Some political groups, such as the Islamic Action Front—the political arm of the banned Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan—have exploited these sentiments to incite opposition to the plan, describing it as a “Zionist deal targeting Palestinian rights,” even before Hamas itself had given formal approval.
Notably, the Islamic Action Front approached the plan from a perspective that serves Hamas rhetoric more than Jordanian national interest, wrapping its positions in slogans such as “defending the resistance” and “fighting Israel” in an attempt to give a nationalistic appearance to stances that practically contradict the state’s current interests and national security.
In this context, Amman must deal with the plan realistically and cautiously, balancing opportunities for regional participation with domestic security needs. Jordan is required to intensify efforts to secure and closely monitor its borders to prevent infiltration or illegal activity from the West Bank. It also needs ongoing political and diplomatic coordination with Egypt, Arab states, the United States, and supportive European countries to ensure that its participation in reconstruction is effective and serves its strategic interests. At the same time, managing domestic public opinion through a clear national discourse is essential to protect society from incitement and attempts to distort national priorities.
Economically, reconstruction projects in Gaza could provide Jordan with opportunities to strengthen its national economy, activate its productive and service sectors, and alleviate pressures from refugee flows or regional economic contraction. However, the ability to benefit from these opportunities depends on the state’s capacity to maintain political and security discipline and to address internal challenges decisively and calmly.
In conclusion, Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan represents a potential opportunity for Jordan to enhance its regional position and participate in rebuilding the Strip within an organized international framework, while also testing the Kingdom’s ability to safeguard its highest interests and internal security. Success depends on careful management combining strict security measures with diplomatic flexibility, as well as domestic awareness that places national interest above all ideological or populist considerations. Jordan cannot approach this issue based on emotions or ideological calculations alone. The Palestinian issue will remain central to the Jordanian consciousness, but protecting Jordan’s stability and security must remain the absolute priority. If Jordan can properly read and utilize the plan within its national security framework, it will emerge as a winner; if left to domestic political conflict or populist exploitation, the opportunity may turn into a heavy strategic burden.
Saud Al-Sharafat / Director of Shorufat Center for Globalization and Terrorism Studies.Amman-Jordan
Keywords: Trump, Gaza, Israel, Jordan
