President Donald Trump's proposal to have the United States take control of the Gaza Strip, relocate most of its 2.1 million residents, and redevelop the war-ravaged enclave into what he described as "the Riviera of the Middle East" has been met with swift condemnation from Palestinian leaders and key Arab states.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas rejected the proposal outright, declaring, "We will not allow the rights of our people... to be infringed on." He emphasized that Gaza remains an integral part of Palestine and that any forced displacement of its population would violate international law. The militant group Hamas warned that the plan would "put oil on the fire" of an already volatile region.
Trump unveiled the controversial initiative at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, marking a dramatic departure from long-standing U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The former president framed the plan as an opportunity to clear Gaza of unexploded ordnance, demolish destroyed buildings, and create an economically viable, tourism-driven zone.
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too," Trump stated. He estimated that 1.8 million Palestinians would need to be relocated to neighboring Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations. When asked if these refugees would ever be allowed to return, he said, "The world's people will live in Gaza, also Palestinians."
Arab and International Leaders Condemn the Plan
The proposal has been met with strong regional resistance. Saudi Arabia, which has been in talks to normalize ties with Israel, dismissed Trump's suggestion outright. The Saudi Foreign Ministry declared that the kingdom "unequivocally rejects" any attempt to resettle Palestinians outside their homeland and reiterated that diplomatic relations with Israel would not be established without the creation of a Palestinian state.
Neighboring Egypt also rejected any suggestion that it would absorb displaced Gazans, warning that forced relocations could destabilize the region. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that his government would focus on rebuilding Gaza without its people being forced to leave.
Turkey, another influential regional player, issued a similarly forceful rebuke. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan declared, "The relocation of Palestinians from Gaza in any form is unacceptable."
Western governments also expressed alarm over the proposal. France's foreign ministry stated that any forced displacement would be "a serious violation of international law" and an obstacle to a two-state solution. British Foreign Secretary David Lammy added that Palestinians must be able to live and prosper in Gaza and the West Bank.
Israeli Reactions to Trump's Proposal
While the idea of mass population transfer has historically been associated with Israel's far-right factions, Trump's plan received mixed reactions within Israel's leadership.
Netanyahu, who stood alongside Trump during the announcement, called the proposal "worth paying attention to", saying, "This is the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace."
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a hardline right-wing politician, enthusiastically welcomed the plan, describing it as a "historic opportunity" to remove Palestinian influence from Gaza. Opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, took a more cautious stance, saying there were "no concrete details yet" and that returning hostages should be Israel's priority.
The proposal also raised concerns about its impact on ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The truce, which has seen Hamas release Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, remains fragile, and Trump's comments could jeopardize diplomatic efforts to extend the ceasefire beyond March.
Historical Parallels and Palestinian Resistance
Palestinians, including leaders from both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, see the plan as an attempt to erase their presence from Gaza. Abbas warned that forced displacement would amount to a repeat of the "Nakba", the 1948 displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during Israel's founding.
A Gaza resident interviewed by BBC Arabic voiced the sentiment of many on the ground: "We have endured nearly a year and a half of bombings and destruction, yet we remain in Gaza. We would rather die here than leave. We will stay until we rebuild."
Trump has a history of controversial proposals in the Middle East, including his 2018 recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and his 2020 Abraham Accords, which facilitated diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations. However, his latest vision for Gaza appears to have little regional backing and could face significant legal and diplomatic hurdles.
