Trump’s Plan to Relocate Gaza’s Population Sparks Global Outcry and Local Fear
Donald Trump’s recent proposal to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt has sparked intense reactions and widespread criticism. Residents of Gaza, who have endured devastating conditions due to relentless bombardments, warn that this plan threatens the very existence of Palestine and raises serious concerns about ethnic cleansing.
Masri Falah, a 36-year-old from northern Gaza, now displaced to Khan Younis in the south, expressed fear that such displacement would lead to Palestinians being permanently barred from returning to their homeland. Falah emphasized the importance of focusing on rebuilding Gaza rather than displacing its people. He called for swift action to clear the rubble and restore Gaza’s infrastructure, enabling displaced individuals to remain within the Strip.
Another displaced resident, Ibrahim Abu Serial, voiced concerns that Trump’s proposal aims to dismantle Palestinian citizenship and eliminate refugees’ right of return. Highlighting Israel’s move to shut down the United Nations Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), which has long supported Palestinian refugees, Abu Serial stressed the deep connection Gazans have to their land. “We love this land as trees love water. We have no intention of leaving,” he declared.
Trump floated the idea during a conversation with journalists aboard Air Force One, revealing that he had discussed the matter with Jordan’s King Abdullah and planned to bring it up with Egypt’s president Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. He suggested building housing outside Gaza as a potential solution for its displaced population, describing the enclave as a “demolition site.” Critics have slammed the proposal as a dangerous escalation of forced displacement.
Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch’s director for Israel and Palestine, warned that implementing such a plan would significantly worsen the suffering of Palestinians and constitute crimes against humanity. Francesca Albanese, the UN’s special rapporteur on human rights in Palestinian territories, echoed this sentiment, condemning the proposal as both illegal and immoral.
The suggestion has met firm opposition from regional neighbors and Palestinian authorities. Jordan, already hosting over two million Palestinian refugees, rejected the idea outright, with Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi labeling it “firm and unwavering” opposition. Egypt has also raised security concerns over the proposed mass relocation to its Sinai Peninsula, stressing the risks of expanded regional conflict.
Despite the widespread condemnation, Trump’s proposal found support among far-right figures in Israel’s government, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called it “an excellent plan.” This aligns with his long-standing call for Jewish settlers to return to Gaza.
Palestinians see the proposal as part of an extended campaign to erode their national identity and rights. Residents of Gaza fear that the United States’ actions, including lifting sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of attacking Palestinians and supplying munitions to Israel, signal an increasingly aggressive stance against Palestinian statehood aspirations.
While some Gaza residents oppose any notion of leaving their homeland, others, desperate after enduring profound loss and destruction, view relocation as their only hope. Ghadeer Alhabash, 28, whose family has suffered devastating losses, expressed reluctant support for Trump’s plan, stating that she has nothing left to return to in Gaza. Similarly, Duaa Abed Rabbo, a mother caring for a child with Down’s Syndrome, shared her desperation for a peaceful life abroad after losing her home and family members.
The proposal has intensified concerns about the future of Gaza’s population and the broader Palestinian struggle for statehood, igniting debates across the region and the international community.
