Trump’s suggested forced displacement of Gaza’s population would probably be a violation of international law and would be fiercely opposed, including by Western allies. Some academics have called the proposal ethnic cleansing.
What was the proposal for Palestinians?
Trump suggested Palestinians leave Gaza for good, to live “in nice homes and where they can be happy and not be shot, not be killed”.
Palestinians return to their homes in Gaza City this week, after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.Credit: Getty Images
He has said Palestinians should be housed in “beautiful” new towns in nearby Arab nations built with funds from other countries or from unnamed wealthy people. He named Egypt and Jordan as two countries that should resettle Palestinians but both have rejected that, reiterating their support for a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, seen as the ultimate way to resolve the conflict by most countries.
“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said. “I heard that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They live like hell. They live like they’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.
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”You could build four or five or six areas, it doesn’t have to be one area … and you build really good quality housing, like a beautiful town, some place where they can live and not die,” he said.
What has the reaction been?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the idea and pointed out Israel’s position was that Gaza must never again be allowed to pose a threat to the Jewish state.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, said: “Trump’s remarks about his desire to control Gaza are ridiculous and absurd, and any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region.”
The Saudi government said it rejected any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land and that it would not establish relations with Israel without establishment of a Palestinian state.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would not say if he supported Trump’s plan, but he reiterated Australia’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, told CNN that Trump’s proposal violated international law and amounted to ethnic cleansing, noting Palestinians had been displaced from their homes multiple times since 1948.
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Who controls Gaza now?
In 2005, Israel withdrew its military and settlers from the Gaza Strip for security and political reasons but Gaza remained dependent on Israel for water, electricity and telecommunications. Israel also controlled its air and maritime spaces.
In 2006, militant organisation Hamas defeated Fatah in a democratic election and took control of the Gaza Strip. Hamas and other militant groups have continued to clash with Israel since.
Reuters, AP
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