Trump Suggests Resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to a More Suitable Location “`

During a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump reiterated his proposal to relocate Gazans.

Prior to his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested permanently relocating Gazans to other countries, characterizing Gaza as uninhabitable and in a state of devastation.

This meeting occurred amidst a fragile six-week ceasefire in Gaza, following fifteen months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. The UN reports that approximately 1.9 million people—over 90% of Gaza’s population—have been displaced since the October 2023 war began.

“Gaza is currently unlivable, and a new location is needed. It should be somewhere that brings happiness,” Trump told reporters during a photo opportunity with Netanyahu. “If we could find a beautiful area for permanent resettlement, with nice homes, where people are safe from violence,” he added, referencing the violence in Gaza.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), roughly 92% of Gaza’s homes have been destroyed or severely damaged. Trump, a former real estate developer, has repeatedly described Gaza as a “demolition site” in recent weeks.

“There are barely any buildings left standing, and those that are will soon collapse,” Trump stated, highlighting the presence of explosives as a significant safety hazard.

Trump proposed Jordan and Egypt as potential host nations for displaced Palestinians, despite these countries previously rejecting “direct expulsion or coerced migration.” Such actions, according to a joint statement issued Saturday by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League, would “threaten regional stability, risk escalating the conflict, and undermine prospects for peace and coexistence.”

Netanyahu didn’t address Trump’s proposal but thanked him for his role in securing the Gaza ceasefire, praising his “great force and powerful leadership” in brokering the agreement. He also outlined Israel’s goals: securing the release of all hostages, dismantling Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, and eliminating the threat Gaza poses to Israel.

The Gaza Health Ministry reports approximately 47,500 Palestinian deaths and over 111,500 injuries during the fifteen months of Israeli attacks.

Despite the January 15 ceasefire, Israel accuses Hamas of violating a prisoner exchange agreement and has halted the return of Gazans to their homes in northern Gaza. Both sides accuse each other of ceasefire violations.

The Palestinian UN ambassador, Riyad Mansour, rejected Trump’s proposal, stating that Palestinians “want to rebuild Gaza because this is our home.”

“Those who want to send Palestinians to a ‘nice place’ should let them return to their original homes in what is now Israel,” Mansour added.

Hamas officials also condemned Trump’s suggestion, calling it “a recipe for regional chaos and tension” and vowing to resist any displacement efforts. “Our people in Gaza will not accept these plans. Ending the occupation and aggression against our people, not expelling them from their land, is what’s needed,” said Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri.