World Today

Outraged Palestinians condemned President Donald Trump’s claim that the United States would seek ownership of the Gaza Strip, insisting they would not abandon their homes in the war-torn enclave. In Khan Younis, Narmin Nour El Din, 29, expressed the collective sentiment by stating, “All the Palestinians refuse the idea and we will be insistent on our land.” She urged Trump to allow the people to live in their land and improve it rather than take it from them.

Hussein Abdel Jawad, 25, shared concerns about Trump’s ambitions for Gaza, fearing that the plan could succeed. At a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump mentioned the United States would take a “long-term ownership position” in Gaza, describing it as the “riviera of the Middle East.” Although he suggested that Palestinians would live there among “many” others, his earlier comments about relocating Palestinians from what he termed a “demolition site” starkly contrasted with this vision.

Critics highlighted the plan’s failure to acknowledge the Palestinian quest for statehood, viewing Gaza as critical to this future. The proposal also resonated with the historical context of the “Nakba,” which refers to the displacement of Palestinians during the founding of Israel in 1948. Palestinian political leaders across the spectrum condemned Trump’s remarks, with Hamas official Izzat Al-Rishq describing the proposal as a reflection of Trump’s “confusion and deep ignorance.” President Mahmoud Abbas and Mustafa Barghouti, leader of the Palestinian National Initiative party, also rejected the idea, labeling it an attempt at ethnic cleansing.

The backdrop of this controversy includes the significant destruction in Gaza, where approximately 60% of infrastructure has been damaged due to recent military offensives. Following Hamas’ attack on October 7, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli casualties, the conflict has escalated dramatically, leading to a reported death toll of over 47,500 Palestinians since then.

In Israel, reactions to Trump’s comments were mixed, with right-wing lawmakers supporting the proposals while others voiced opposition. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and far-right figures like Bezalel Smotrich endorsed the idea, considering it a viable response to the Hamas attack. In contrast, peace activists like Gershon Baskin condemned the notion, asserting that the U.S. lacks the authority to dictate terms for the Palestinian people.

Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer, remarked that Trump’s plan was not surprising, as similar ideas had been floated by Israeli lawmakers advocating for the resettlement of Gaza. Meanwhile, U.S. allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, refrained from criticizing Trump’s proposal, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza while maintaining that normalization with Israel would require a two-state solution.