United States President, Donald Trump, has proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, describing the territory as a “demolition site.”
During a recent phone call, he stated that he had suggested this idea to Jordan’s King Abdullah, saying, “I’d love you to take on more, because I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now and it’s a mess, it’s a real mess.”
He mentioned plans to present the same proposal to Egypt’s President on Sunday, adding that the move “could be temporary” or “could be long-term.”
The suggestion has sparked fierce opposition, particularly from Hamas, which has rejected any plans for displacement.
Hamas official Bassem Naim criticized the proposal, stating, “Our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip endured death and destruction for 15 months… without leaving their land. Therefore, they will not accept any offers or solutions, even if they appear to be good intentions under the title of reconstruction, as announced by US President Trump’s proposals.” He further asserted, “Our people, just as they have thwarted all plans for displacement and an alternative homeland over the decades, will also thwart such projects.”
Gaza, ravaged by 15 months of conflict with Israel, is home to two million residents, most of whom have been displaced.
According to the United Nations, 60% of Gaza’s structures have been damaged or destroyed, with rebuilding potentially taking decades.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Mr. Trump suggested resettling displaced Palestinians in other Arab nations, saying, “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing. Almost everything is demolished and people are dying there. So I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where maybe they can live in peace for a change.”
However, no additional details of the plan were provided, and the White House’s official summary of the call omitted the topic.
The idea of displacement has been widely condemned. Abu Yahya Rashid, a man displaced in Khan Younis, expressed his defiance, stating, “We are the ones who decide our fate and what we want. This land is ours and the property of our ancestors throughout history. We will not leave it except as corpses.”
The U.S. has historically supported the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Gaza envisioned as an integral part.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu opposes this, and the far-right in Israel has voiced support for relocating Gaza’s population.
Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Mr. Trump, saying, “One of our demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to promote voluntary emigration.”
The proposal also faces resistance from neighbouring countries. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi previously rejected the idea of forced displacement into the Sinai Peninsula, emphasizing the need for an independent Palestinian state.
As displaced residents awaited permission to return to northern Gaza, one man shared his mixed emotions with the BBC, “There is nothing there – there is no life, everything is demolished. But still to return to your land, to your home is a big joy.”
In separate remarks, Trump confirmed lifting a hold on 2,000-pound bombs ordered by Israel during Joe Biden’s presidency, saying, “They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” Despite calls to curb arms shipments to Israel due to the destruction in Gaza, the U.S. remains Israel’s largest arms supplier.
