Trump and Allies Float Gaza Relocation Plan as Critics Decry It as Ethnic Cleansing

MIDDLE EAST — President Trump’s proposal for relocating Gazans to new settlements outside their homeland has ignited fierce criticism, with opponents labeling the idea as a continuation of historical efforts to displace Palestinians. The discussion comes as Gaza remains in ruins following months of bombardment, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced.

In an interview, Soumaya Ghannoushi, a writer and expert in Middle East politics, criticized the plan, arguing that it frames forced displacement as a humanitarian solution. “Now suddenly, Trump wants to do Gaza a favor,” she said. “Because, you see, in his mind, the problem isn’t that Israel has massacred tens of thousands, displaced millions, and obliterated entire neighborhoods. No, no, the problem is that Gazans are still there.”

The proposal reportedly includes developing new living areas for Gazans, with financing potentially coming from wealthy Gulf states. Real estate mogul Steve Witkoff, an ally of Trump, was quoted as justifying the plan by stating that Gaza has become uninhabitable due to the war. Ghannoushi questioned the logic, emphasizing the role of Israeli and American airstrikes in the destruction. “Did its homes, its schools, its centuries-old mosques and churches just decide to collapse? Was it hit by an earthquake, a natural disaster? Or was it Israeli bombs? American bombs. 50,000 tons of them.”

Trump’s stance on Palestinian displacement contrasts sharply with his policies on immigration during his presidency. Ghannoushi pointed out what she sees as hypocrisy, stating, “This is the same Trump who built his entire political brand on shutting borders... But when it comes to the Palestinians, suddenly migration is good, suddenly displacement is necessary.”

The discussion over forced relocation is not new. Documents from Israel’s government archives have shown that after Israel occupied Gaza in 1967, some officials considered depopulating the region. Former Prime Minister Levi Eshkol and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan reportedly debated strategies to make life so unbearable for Palestinians that they would leave voluntarily. Ghannoushi cited this historical precedent, stating, “The same language, the same logic, the same genocidal vision.”

Despite past and present efforts to alter the demographic makeup of Gaza, Ghannoushi contends that the Palestinian resistance remains unwavering. “Gaza is part of Palestine, and Gaza does not surrender,” she said, referencing poet Mahmoud Darwish’s 1971 writings about the enduring spirit of Gazans.

As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with humanitarian conditions worsening by the day, Trump’s proposal faces widespread opposition. The debate underscores broader geopolitical tensions over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of international actors in determining the fate of displaced populations.

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