Earlier this month, the president said he favored taking control of Gaza and displacing the Palestinian population of the devastated seaside enclave. But Egypt and Jordan flatly rejected cooperating.

US President Donald Trump appears to step back from his controversial Gaza plan after Egypt and Jordan voiced strong opposition. In a Fox News interview, Trump admitted he was “a little bit surprised” by their rejection.

Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza and take over the territory was rejected by several foreign nations, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China.