Trump's Gaza Plan: U.S. Proposal for Forced Displacement and Long-Term Control Faces Global Backlash

On February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump made a shocking announcement regarding the future of the Gaza Strip. During a news conference with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Palestinians in Gaza should be forcibly moved out of the region, with the United States assuming long-term control over the area to rebuild it. His comments have sparked outrage worldwide, with Palestinian leaders, international organizations, and several global governments condemning the proposal as both illegal and dangerous. Critics are calling it a step toward ethnic cleansing in the region. Below are key reactions from various groups and countries.

Hamas: A Recipe for Chaos

• Hamas, the Palestinian militant group governing Gaza, strongly condemned Trump’s comments.
• Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, described the proposal as “ridiculous and absurd,” stressing that any attempt to expel Palestinians from Gaza would lead to chaos.
  • “We consider them [the plan] a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass,” Abu Zuhri stated.
• Another senior Hamas official, Izzat el-Reshiq, also warned that the proposal would “put oil on fire” in the region.
  • “These statements reflect confusion and deep ignorance about Palestine and the region,” said el-Reshiq.

Palestinian Leadership’s Firm Rejection

Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO):

• Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary-General of the PLO, reaffirmed the PLO's stance that no Palestinians should be displaced from Gaza.
  • “The Palestinian leadership affirms its firm position that the two-state solution, in accordance with international legitimacy and international law, is the guarantee of security, stability and peace,” al-Sheikh said on X (formerly Twitter).

Palestinian Authority (PA):

• President Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority expressed strong opposition, rejecting any plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza.
  • “We will not allow any infringement of the rights of our people, which we have struggled for decades and made great sacrifices to achieve,” Abbas declared.
  • He further emphasized the need for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders for lasting peace.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ):

• PIJ also condemned Trump’s remarks as a dangerous escalation that jeopardizes regional security.
  • “Trump’s positions and plans are a dangerous escalation that threaten Arab and regional national security,”the group warned.

International Responses: Strong Disapproval

United States:

• Senator Chris Murphy (Democrat) called Trump's proposal reckless and unrealistic.
  • “He’s totally lost it,” Murphy stated, adding that such an invasion would lead to "the slaughter of thousands of US troops".
• Senator Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) also condemned the proposal, labeling it “ethnic cleansing by another name” and urging Congress to oppose it.
  • “This declaration will give ammunition to Iran and other adversaries while undermining our Arab partners in the region,” Van Hollen said.

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR):

• CAIR strongly opposed the plan, asserting that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States.
  • “If the Palestinian people were ever somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity would spark widespread conflict,” CAIR said.

International Governments: Opposition and Concerns

Saudi Arabia:

• Saudi Arabia reiterated its position, rejecting any attempt to displace Palestinians.
  • “Saudi Arabia also reiterates its previously announced unequivocal rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” the Saudi foreign ministry stated.

Russia and China:

• Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, condemned the idea of forcibly displacing Palestinians and described the practice as “collective punishment”.
• China's Foreign Ministry also expressed its opposition to the forced transfer of Gaza’s population, calling for a political solution based on the two-state solution.

Turkey:

• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called Trump's comments “unacceptable” and warned that sidelining Palestinians would lead to more conflict in the region.
  • He also mentioned that Turkey would reconsider its diplomatic actions against Israel depending on the developments in Gaza.

France and the United Kingdom:

• France emphasized that any forced displacement of Palestinians would violate international law and hinder the two-state solution.
• UK Foreign Minister David Lammy reiterated his support for a two-state solution and a peaceful future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

Brazil and Australia:

• Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva criticized Trump's plan as “incomprehensible”, asking where displaced Palestinians would go.
• Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed his country’s support for the two-state solution, though he refrained from directly commenting on Trump's remarks.

United Nations and Human Rights Groups: Strong Reactions

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese:

• Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, called Trump’s proposal “unlawful, immoral and completely irresponsible.”
  • “What he proposes is… nonsense. It will make the regional crisis even worse. It’s incitement to commit forced displacement, which is an international crime,” Albanese stated.

Amnesty International:

• Paul O’Brien, Executive Director at Amnesty International US, condemned the plan as “tantamount to destroying them [Palestinians] as a people.”
  • He emphasized that Gaza is the Palestinians' home, and its destruction is the result of ongoing violence in the region.

Source: Al Jazeera