Trump Suggests Relocating Gaza Residents to Empty the Region
Trump’s Controversial Proposal Sparks Concerns of Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza
Online Desk:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has proposed relocating Gaza’s Palestinian population to other countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, in an effort to “empty” the Gaza Strip. Trump disclosed this perspective to reporters just a week after being sworn in for his second term as president. The suggestion has triggered fears of a new wave of ethnic cleansing in the region.
On Saturday, Trump revealed that he had discussed the matter with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. He also planned to raise the issue with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi on Sunday. According to Trump, “I want Egypt to take in more people from Gaza. We’re possibly talking about 1.5 million people who need to be relocated to empty Gaza.”
Trump suggested that Gaza’s residents could be temporarily or permanently moved to these neighboring countries. “The area has become a wasteland. Nearly everything has been destroyed, and people are dying,” he added.
Criticism from Palestinian Resistance Groups
Trump’s proposal has been condemned by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), a militant group that resists Israel alongside Hamas. PIJ labeled the suggestion as a war crime and an incitement to crimes against humanity. They also urged Egypt and Jordan to reject the proposal, accusing Trump of aligning with Israel’s agenda to depopulate Palestinian territories.
“Trump’s remarks echo Israel’s long-standing ambition to displace Palestinians from their homeland,” PIJ stated, calling the plan a severe violation of Palestinian rights.
Analysts Warn of a Repeat of History
Experts believe the proposal could lead to a repeat of the 1948 Nakba, during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced following the establishment of Israel. According to historians, forcing Gaza’s residents to leave would mark another dark chapter in Palestinian history.
Al Jazeera’s Georgetown University associate professor Abdullah al-Arian emphasized the gravity of Trump’s statement: “This is not an isolated comment. For over a year, similar ideas have been floated, and during the war in Gaza, Israeli officials indicated intentions to displace Palestinians en masse.”
U.S. Resumes Bomb Supply to Israel
In a related development, Trump has lifted a suspension imposed by former President Joe Biden on supplying Israel with 2,000-pound bombs. A White House source confirmed the decision, and Trump himself announced it on his social media platform, Truth Social, stating, “Everything Israel wanted but didn’t receive under Biden is now on its way.”
Biden had previously withheld the bombs, fearing they could be used against civilians in Gaza, particularly the refugees in Rafah.
Gaza Residents Blocked from Returning Home
Despite a recent ceasefire, Israeli forces have blocked thousands of displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes in northern Gaza, citing alleged violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.
One Gaza resident, Mohammed Imad Al-Din, told the BBC: “Even if my home is destroyed, I’ll pitch a tent over the rubble. I just want to return.”
The situation remains tense, with fears of further escalation as political rhetoric and military actions continue to shape the fate of Gaza’s residents.
