Background of the Conflict
In October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel began a military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. Over 15 months, more than 47,550 people in Gaza were killed, and 111,600 were injured. Most of Gaza’s population was displaced multiple times, and nearly 70% of its buildings were destroyed or damaged. Basic services like healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene collapsed, leading to shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.
Trump’s Proposal and Israel’s Response
On February 4, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump proposed that the U.S. take “long-term ownership” of Gaza. He suggested relocating most of Gaza’s 2.1 million Palestinians to other countries to turn Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East”. Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, welcomed Trump’s plan. On February 6, Katz instructed the Israeli military to prepare a plan allowing any Gaza resident who wishes to leave to do so. The plan includes exit options via land crossings, sea, and air.
Katz also said countries that criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, like Spain, Ireland, and Norway, are “legally obligated” to take in Gazans. He accused Hamas of preventing people from leaving Gaza and emphasized the need for “freedom of movement and migration”.
Palestinian and Regional Reactions
The Palestinian presidency rejected Trump’s plan, reiterating that “Palestine… is not for sale”. Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, said Palestinians will “not give up an inch of their land”. He added that the Palestinian people will not allow any plan aimed at liquidating their cause through investment projects. Hamas official Basem Naim accused Katz of trying to cover up Israel’s failures in the war on Gaza and said Palestinians would refuse to leave.
Regional leaders also condemned the proposal. Saudi Arabia rejected any attempts to annex land or displace Palestinians. Egypt’s foreign minister stressed the importance of reconstruction without displacing Palestinians from Gaza. Jordan’s king expressed his country’s “rejection of any attempts to annex land or displace Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank”.
International Concerns and Ceasefire
The U.N. human rights office warned that forcibly transferring people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under international law. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized avoiding any form of ethnic cleansing and stressed that Gaza would be part of a future Palestinian state.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began on January 18, 2025. The ceasefire aims to lead to a permanent end to the fighting and includes a plan for hostage releases and prisoner exchanges. However, negotiations on extending the ceasefire and the next steps remain uncertain.
Netanyahu’s Stance
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supported Trump’s proposal, calling it “remarkable” and something that should be “examined, pursued, and done”. He suggested that Gazans could leave and return after reconstruction. However, he rejected the idea of U.S. troops being deployed to take control of Gaza or Washington funding the reconstruction.
Conclusion
The situation in Gaza remains complex and fraught with tension. While some see Trump’s proposal as a potential solution, many others view it as a violation of international law and an attempt to displace Palestinians from their land. The future of Gaza and its residents remains uncertain as various stakeholders navigate the delicate balance between conflict resolution, humanitarian concerns, and geopolitical interests.