Donald Trump has proposed that Gaza’s 2.3 million residents should relocate to neighbouring countries, allowing Israel to “clean out” the region entirely. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Saturday, the US president claimed he wanted to resume shipping 2,000lb bombs to Israel—lethal weapons strong enough to demolish large structures.
The Plan: Relocate Gaza’s Residents
Trump said Gaza residents could move “temporarily or long-term” to Jordan or Egypt, suggesting Arab nations could provide housing “where they can live in peace.” He has already spoken with Jordan’s King Abdullah about taking more refugees, noting that Jordan already hosts 2.4 million Palestinians. Meanwhile, Egypt has firmly rejected forced displacement of Gazans across its border.
Ethnic Cleansing Concerns
Mustafa Barghouti, a senior Palestinian official, condemned any idea of pushing Palestinians out of their homeland as “ethnic cleansing.” Far-right Israeli politicians, however, welcomed the plan, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who called it a “great idea” and promised to create an operational strategy.
Real Estate “Opportunities”?
Trump has long shown a curious interest in Gaza’s geography. Previously calling it a “massive demolition site,” he’s even likened it to a real estate project that “needs to be rebuilt in a different way.”
A “Red Line” for Qatar
Mediating officials from Qatar slammed the suggestion of any plan involving relocation or permanent reoccupation. They stressed that forcibly displacing Gaza residents would be wholly unacceptable in the post-war scenario.
Resuming 2,000lb Bomb Shipments
Trump also announced he is resuming the delivery of powerful 2,000lb bombs to Israel, weapons originally paused by the previous administration due to concerns about high civilian casualties. He dismissed doubts by saying, “They bought them,” indicating a purely transactional view of the arms sales.
Final Thoughts
While Trump’s new cabinet firmly supports Israel, critics warn that pushing Palestinians out of Gaza without a plan for governance only inflames the conflict. This “clean out” approach, as the president puts it, seems likely to deepen tensions both within the region and on the international stage.
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