Trump's Controversial Gaza Proposal Sparks Global Outrage: “Take Over” Plan and Displacement of Palestinians

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, made controversial remarks last week regarding the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, contradicting previous statements from other American politicians on the matter.

During a summit with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump unveiled his plan for the Gaza Strip, a proposal that enraged Arab nations, including U.S. allies who had supported the United States throughout the duration of the war. "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip," Trump announced during a press conference with Netanyahu. He stated, "...We’re going to take over that piece and develop it," emphasizing his intentions to turn Gaza into a "real estate development for the future."

Trump expressed confidence in his plan, suggesting that Palestinians would not remain in Gaza in the future he envisioned for the land. Although he did not explicitly call for the eviction or deportation of Palestinians from Gaza, he remarked that they would not have "the right to return." He explained that Palestinians "live like hell," implying that they would have no reason to return to Gaza, which he described as "a big pile of rubble."

Trump also suggested possible alternatives for where Palestinians could relocate. He proposed that the United States help build "Palestinian housing," which he referred to as permanent refugee camps outside Gaza, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of this idea. "But we’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, where all of this danger is," he added.

Photo: NBC News

Later in the press conference, Trump suggested that neighboring Middle Eastern countries, those sharing borders with Palestine, specifically those near Gaza, should accept displaced Palestinian refugees. However, these countries quickly rejected the idea. More than 1.5 million Palestinians currently live as refugees in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and even Israel. Lebanese and Egyptian officials issued statements rejecting Trump's proposal, stating that no Arab state would be willing to take on additional Palestinian refugees. As of now, around 1.8 million Palestinians reside in Gaza, and if Trump’s plan were to be implemented, nearly all of them would lose their homes.

Beyond Jordan and Egypt, many other Arab countries that have supported Palestine during the conflict also expressed opposition to Trump’s proposal. A UN diplomat commented, “Saudi Arabia is unlikely to pursue peace under these circumstances,” adding that other Arab nations might reconsider their commitments to the Abraham Accords. It is crucial to note that since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, Saudi Arabia, an influential Arab power, has supported the return of "occupied Palestinian land" to Palestine, particularly advocating for Jerusalem to become the Palestinian capital.

As expected, the Palestinian militant group Hamas did not comment on Trump's remarks, signaling their disagreement and a retreat from the negotiations they had been part of over the past month. In Israel, the response was more supportive. While Netanyahu did not comment directly during the summit or the following press conference, he was seen smiling and later said, “I think President Trump added great force and powerful leadership to this effort.” Far-right Israeli parties were particularly supportive of Trump’s proposal, especially regarding the future of Palestinian settlements.

Critics, especially diplomats and politicians, however, have accused Trump of hypocrisy. He claimed credit for achieving a ceasefire in the region and improving relations between Palestine and Israel early in his presidency and even used his success to harshly criticize former American president Joe Biden on his failure to achieve a ceasefire during his time in the office. Now, his plan to "own" Gaza and displace Palestinians could potentially reignite conflict, contradicting his earlier statements about "valuing peace and democracy while acting." Several Arab nations, as well as European, Asian, and UN representatives, condemned the proposal as unacceptable, warning that action would be taken if it were to proceed.

Although Trump appeared confident in his plan during the press conference, no concrete actions have been taken by the United States since his announcement. As of now, it remains merely a statement that has raised significant global concern. Should this situation escalate into real action, we will continue to provide updates.

Source: CNN and The Guardian

Author: Defne Doğan