By Fars Media Corporation, CC BY 4.0,
President Donald Trump has expressed his determination to “purchase and possess” the Gaza Strip, along with plans to relocate the two million Palestinians residing there, despite widespread international criticism of the proposal he presented last week. He informed reporters that he may permit countries in the Middle East to participate in the reconstruction of certain areas within the territory, assuring that the Palestinian refugees would “live beautifully.” Both the Palestinian Authority and the militant group Hamas, which has been engaged in a 16-month conflict with Israel that has led to significant destruction in Gaza, have reiterated that Palestinian land is “not for sale.” In contrast, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended Trump’s initiative as “revolutionary and creative.”
Three weeks into a delicate ceasefire in Gaza, Hamas has begun releasing some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli facilities. This development follows the Israeli military’s initiation of a campaign aimed at dismantling Hamas, a response to an unprecedented cross-border assault on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities and 251 hostages taken.
Since that date, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 48,180 individuals have lost their lives. The majority of Gaza’s residents have been displaced multiple times, with nearly 70% of structures estimated to be either damaged or destroyed. The region’s healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, leading to severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.
During a flight to New Orleans on Air Force One to attend the Super Bowl, Trump reiterated his commitment to assume control over post-war Gaza. He stated, “I am dedicated to purchasing and owning Gaza. Regarding its reconstruction, we may delegate sections to other Middle Eastern states or allow others to undertake this under our guidance. However, we are resolute in our intention to own it, ensuring that Hamas does not return.” He did not clarify from whom he would acquire Gaza or the means by which the U.S. would claim ownership.
“There is nothing left to return to; the area resembles a demolition site… The remnants will be razed,” he remarked. “Nevertheless, we will transform it into a prime location for future development by others.” Trump asserted that individuals from around the globe would have the opportunity to relocate to Gaza and vowed to “ensure the well-being of the Palestinians.”
“We will guarantee that they live in beauty, harmony, and peace, free from violence,” he continued. “They do not wish to return to Gaza; they only do so because they lack alternatives.” The president also expressed optimism about persuading neighboring Egypt and Jordan to assist, despite their previous public refusals to accept refugees from Gaza.
King Abdullah of Jordan is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Washington on Tuesday. Additionally, Israel’s president indicated that Trump will engage in discussions with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the upcoming days. During a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on Sunday, Israel’s Prime Minister expressed his support for Trump’s proposal.
“For an entire year, we have been informed that in the ‘day after’, the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] and the Palestinian Authority must be present in the Strip,” Netanyahu remarked.
“President Trump has introduced a distinctly different vision, one that is significantly more favorable for the State of Israel—a revolutionary and innovative perspective that we are currently deliberating. He is resolutely committed to its implementation, which also presents numerous opportunities for us.”
In response, the Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry stated, “The rights of our people and our land are not for sale, exchange, or negotiation.” They further asserted, “The Israeli government and Prime Minister Netanyahu are attempting to obscure the atrocities of genocide, forced displacement, and annexation that they have perpetrated against our people. To this end, they continue to advocate for slogans and positions that are disconnected from the political reality and the necessary solutions to the conflict.”
A political representative from Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by Israel, the US, the UK, and other nations, criticized Trump’s comments as “absurd” and indicative of “a profound ignorance of Palestine and the region.” Izzat al-Rishq emphasized, “Gaza is not a commodity to be bought or sold; it is an essential part of our occupied Palestinian territory.”
The UN human rights office has cautioned that any forced transfer or deportation of individuals from occupied territories is strictly forbidden under international law. Palestinians are also apprehensive about a potential recurrence of the Nakba, or “catastrophe,” during which hundreds of thousands were displaced from their homes before and during the conflict that ensued following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
A significant number of these refugees found themselves in Gaza, where they and their descendants constitute approximately seventy-five percent of the population. Additionally, around 900,000 registered refugees reside in the West Bank, while 3.4 million others are located in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, as reported by the United Nations. On Sunday, Saudi Arabia expressed its gratitude for the “condemnation, disapproval, and complete rejection” articulated by allied nations in response to Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks concerning the displacement of the Palestinian people from their homeland.
