The US president, Donald Trump, has made a surprising proposal to relocate hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and transform the area into a tourist destination. This idea has sparked a strong reaction in the Middle East and around the world.
The president of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmud Abás, has stated that legitimate Palestinian rights are not up for negotiation. In response to American suggestions to expel Palestinians from Gaza, Abás emphasized that the rights of his people, for which they have fought and paid a high price, will not be compromised. He views these calls as a serious violation of international law and believes that there will be no peace or stability in the region without the establishment of a Palestinian State, with Jerusalem as its capital, based on the two-state solution.
Abás also highlighted that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the Palestinian territory, along with the Eastern Bank and Jerusalem, since 1967. Hamas, reacting to Trump’s statement, described his desire to control Gaza as "ridiculous and absurd," warning that such an idea could destabilize the region. A high-ranking official, Sami Abu Zuhri, expressed this sentiment.
Many Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, which are allies of the US and have peaceful relations with Israel, have condemned this announcement. They reject Trump’s suggestion to accept more Palestinian refugees, fearing it may be perceived as a step against the creation of a Palestinian State. This could lead to violence among their own populations and potentially prevent Israel from allowing the refugees to return to Gaza, thus destabilizing the region.
Saudi Arabia issued a statement rejecting the idea of transferring Palestinians and reaffirmed that it will not normalize relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian State that includes Gaza. The Palestinian ambassador to the UN, Riyad Mansour, suggested that if Trump’s goal is to send Palestinians to a "happy and pleasant place," they should be allowed to return to their ancestral homes in Israel. Most of the population in Gaza are descendants of refugees from the 1948 war surrounding the creation of Israel.
Historically, the idea of mass transfer has been associated with the extreme right in Israel. However, leaders of the dominant current have begun to consider Trump’s plan, with Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid, centrist and opposition leaders, stating that the proposal should be studied to understand its details. Israeli Foreign Minister Guideon Saar expressed that "Gaza is a failed experiment," and as long as there is a country willing to accept the Palestinians, it is worth considering the plan.
The current phase of the ceasefire in Gaza, in which Hamas will release hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, is nearing its end. The second phase, involving the release of more hostages in exchange for prisoners, is being negotiated. Hamas has indicated that it will not release the remaining hostages without an end to the war and a total Israeli withdrawal, which would likely prevent any forced transfer.