US President Donald Trump’s administration seems to have retreated after his controversial proposal to take over Gaza resulted in significant backlash, with the United Nations cautioning against “ethnic cleansing” in the area.
Responding to intense criticism from Palestinians, Arab nations, and global leaders, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that any relocation of Gazans would be temporary, while the White House stressed that there was no intention to deploy US troops.
Nonetheless, Mr. Trump maintained that “everybody loves” the plan he introduced amid audible gasps during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Providing scant information on how the United States could manage the relocation of over two million Palestinians or govern the war-torn territory, Mr. Trump declared on Tuesday: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will handle it appropriately. We’ll own it.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) addressed recent developments in Gaza during a session of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.
Later, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the US would not provide financial aid for Gaza’s reconstruction following more than 15 months of conflict between US ally Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas.
“US involvement does not equate to boots on the ground” or imply that “American taxpayers will fund this endeavor,” Ms. Leavitt clarified.
The United Nations voiced strong concerns about ethnic cleansing in Gaza.
“Fundamentally, the exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people is rooted in their right to live as humans on their own land,” said Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a speech to a UN committee addressing Palestinian rights.
Stephane Dujarric, Mr. Guterres’s spokesperson, indicated before the speech that “any forced displacement of people is akin to ethnic cleansing.”
French President Emmanuel Macron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi asserted that any forced displacement of Palestinians would be unacceptable.
“It would constitute a serious violation of international law, hinder the prospect of a two-state solution, and serve as a substantial destabilizing factor for Egypt and Jordan,” the leaders remarked in a joint statement from the French president’s office.
Ms. Leavitt mentioned that Mr. Trump envisions Palestinians being “temporarily relocated” from Gaza.
“It’s currently a demolition site. It’s not a habitable place for any human being,” she noted.
Palestinian officials, Arab leaders, and human rights organizations condemned Mr. Trump’s comments without delay.
Hamas, which has governed Gaza since 2007, dismissed the proposal, calling it “racist,” “aggressive,” and inflammatory.
Israel’s military actions following Hamas’s attack in October 2023 have left much of Gaza in ruins, including schools, hospitals, and essential infrastructure.
The rights group Human Rights Watch asserted that the devastation in Gaza “reflects a calculated Israeli policy designed to make portions of the strip uninhabitable.”
According to Lama Fakih, an HRW regional director, Mr. Trump’s suggested plan “would transition the US from being complicit in war crimes to directly perpetrating atrocities.”
Mr. Trump has frequently claimed responsibility for brokering a ceasefire agreement that began last month.
‘We will remain’
During discussions in Washington regarding the second phase of the ceasefire, Mr. Netanyahu welcomed Trump’s suggestion, calling it a potential “historical game changer.”
Mr. Trump, who implied he might visit Gaza, seemed to suggest it would not be rebuilt for Palestinians.
However, Ms. Leavitt later stated that he had clearly indicated his expectation for Egypt, Jordan, and others “to accept Palestinian refugees temporarily, allowing us to rebuild their homeland.”
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas rejected the proposal, labeling it a “serious violation” of international law and asserting that “legitimate Palestinian rights are non-negotiable.”
Even before the contentious proposal on Tuesday, Mr. Trump had hinted that Gaza residents should consider relocating to Egypt and Jordan. Nevertheless, Palestinians have vowed to remain.
Israel’s President Benjamin Netanyahu referred to Donald Trump as his nation’s “greatest friend.”
“They can do whatever they want, but we will remain steadfast in our homeland,” stated Ahmed Halasa, a 41-year-old resident of Gaza.
For Palestinians, any attempt to displace them from Gaza is reminiscent of the “Nakba,” or “catastrophe,” which refers to the mass displacement that occurred during the establishment of Israel in 1948.
Many Israelis in Jerusalem welcomed Mr. Trump’s proposal, though some expressed skepticism about its feasibility.
“I really like what he said, but in my wildest dreams, it’s hard for me to believe it will happen, but who knows,” remarked 65-year-old Refael.
Both Egypt and Jordan have opposed any resettlement from Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for expedited reconstruction “without the Palestinians leaving.”
In a meeting with Abbas, Jordan’s King Abdullah II rejected “any attempts” to gain control over Palestinian territories and to displace people.
‘Winning’
In Washington, Mr. Netanyahu lauded Mr. Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend” and commended his “willingness to think outside the box.”
The Israeli Prime Minister did not dismiss the possibility of renewed conflict with Hamas or its regional allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.
“We will conclude this war by winning,” Mr. Netanyahu asserted, reaffirming his commitment to securing the release of all hostages in Gaza.
He expressed optimism that a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia was “on the horizon.”
However, Riyadh declared that it would not formalize relations with Israel without advancing towards a Palestinian state and dismissed any “attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.”
Read more: Breathtaking a gross understatement for Trump’s Gaza plan UN chief warns against ‘ethnic cleansing’ in Gaza What does Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza entail?
The European Union emphasized that “Gaza is a vital component of a future Palestinian state.”
The United Arab Emirates condemned “any attempts at displacement,” asserting that “regional stability can only be achieved through a two-state solution,” while Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian expressed that “we oppose the forced transfer of Gaza residents.”
The Arab League labeled Mr. Trump’s proposal as a “recipe for instability.”
Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem described Mr. Trump’s plan as “deranged and reprehensible,” calling it a “moral stain on all parties concerned.”
The Gaza conflict erupted when Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,210 individuals, predominantly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official data.
Israel’s retaliatory actions have claimed at least 47,518 lives in Gaza, the majority being civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The United Nations regards these figures as credible.
