US President Donald Trump has sent shockwaves through the world by announcing his plan to “take over” and “own” the war-torn Gaza Strip, transforming it into a luxury destination.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Feb 4 (local time), Trump announced his intention to transform Gaza into what he dubbed “the Riviera of the Middle East”. The proposal involves relocating the territory’s 1.8 million Palestinian residents to neighbouring countries and redeveloping the area for occupation by “the world’s people”.
“We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump declared, outlining a vision that seems more akin to a real estate development project than a geopolitical solution.
The President didn’t mince words when describing the current state of Gaza, calling it a “symbol of death and destruction”. He argued that the only reason people want to return there is because they have nowhere else to go.
Trump suggested that Palestinians should move to countries with “humanitarian hearts” and “great wealth”, proposing that they could be split up across several locations.
Even if you were to ignore the insults, the notion that Trump is suggesting citizens should move to different countries is surprising coming from a man with such a harsh immigration policy.
When pressed about whether this proposal meant Trump was stepping away from the two-state solution, he offered the following vague response.
“It doesn’t mean anything about a two-state or one state or any other state. It means that we want to have, we want to give people a chance at life,” he said. I truly wish I could decipher what that meant.
Netanyahu, sitting alongside Trump, appeared supportive of the plan, praising the President for “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas” and “showing willingness to puncture conventional thinking”.
However, the proposal has been met with fierce opposition from various quarters. Hamas condemned Trump’s calls for Palestinians to leave Gaza as “expulsion from their land”.
The Saudi government stressed its rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians, while the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations urged world leaders to respect Palestinians’ desire to remain in Gaza, per The Guardian.
Trump’s plan raises serious questions about international law and the potential for forced displacement. Some publications have likened the idea to ethnic cleansing, warning of the severe consequences such a move could have on regional stability and human rights.
However, this proposal comes at a time when the Israel-Gaza conflict remains in a delicate state. As of January 2025, a fragile ceasefire brokered by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt is holding, though tensions simmer beneath the surface. The agreement, implemented in stages since January 19, has seen Israeli forces pull back from densely populated areas of Gaza, allowing some residents to return to the devastated north.
While humanitarian aid has increased slightly and there have been prisoner exchanges, sporadic violence continues to erupt. The occupied West Bank has seen an uptick in violence, with Israeli raids and settler attacks on the rise. Negotiations for a more comprehensive peace deal are ongoing.
Whether Trump’s plan will gain traction or face insurmountable opposition remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the international community will be watching closely as this story unfolds.
Lead image: Getty Images / AP News
The post Donald Trump Unveils Proposal To ‘Take Over’ Gaza & Move Palestinians Elsewhere appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
