– Mohd Naushad Khan
On Tuesday, Trump outlined his proposal at the White House, saying, “The United States will assume control of Gaza, managing its reconstruction. We will take responsibility for removing unexploded ordnance and weaponry, level the site, clear the rubble, and promote economic development with job and housing opportunities.”
He added, “The rebuilding shouldn’t be done by those who have lived and suffered in Gaza. Instead, we should collaborate with humanitarian nations that are willing to help and create communities to house the 1.8 million Palestinians, ending the cycle of death and destruction.”
Trump further suggested that “wealthy” nations would provide land for permanent Palestinian settlements, offering an alternative so appealing that refugees would choose not to return to their homeland. This marks a sharp departure from U.S. policy advocating Palestinian statehood, which Trump supported during his first term.
The proposal, however, faces strong opposition from Egypt, Jordan, the Arab League, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and the Palestinian Authority. When questioned about Jordan’s reluctance, Trump compared it to Venezuela, which recently agreed to accept U.S. deportees after initially refusing.
Diplomat Talmiz Ahmad, former Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE, told Radiancenews.com, “Relocation makes no sense. We can reconstruct Gaza without moving millions of people. Trump’s plan is neither practical nor feasible. Moving people out of Gaza isn’t desirable, and reconstruction can happen without displacing them.”
Ahmad criticized Trump’s proposal, calling it “ignorant and prejudiced.” He pointed out that Gaza has been under an Israeli blockade since 2006 and that the ongoing destruction is largely due to Israeli forces. “Forcible relocation contradicts international law and should be opposed,” he said.
He added, “The proposal to remove Palestinians from Gaza aligns with Israel’s Zionist agenda, aiming to erase Palestinian identity. Trump’s support for this effort must be strongly condemned.”
