U.S. President Donald Trump presented a plan on the 4th (local time) to seize and own the Gaza Strip, ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas, and to permanently relocate residents to nearby Middle Eastern countries like Egypt and Jordan, stating that Gaza would be developed as a resort.
During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said, "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will own it and be responsible for it," adding, "We will make it a Riviera of the Middle East."
However, forcibly relocating about 2 million Palestinian residents to Egypt or Jordan amounts to mere "ethnic cleansing" and is deemed unrealistic when considering the relocation expense and the cost of rebuilding Gaza. Additionally, the annexation of all or part of another nation's territory is a violation of international law.
◇ Given the complex history of Gaza, it's merely 'ethnic cleansing'
First, Egypt and Jordan, which Trump identified as potential relocation sites for Gaza residents, seem unwilling to accept them. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt stated in a release that, "The Gaza issue should be resolved without Palestinian residents leaving Gaza," expressing its opposition. Jordan condemned the plan as "threatening regional stability." However, Trump has maintained a firm stance, saying, "They (the Gaza residents) say they cannot accept them, but I will tell you they can (accept the Gaza residents)."
Considering the history of Gaza, which has been mired in conflict for the past 70 years, there is a prevailing analysis that relocating its residents is practically difficult. Most Gaza residents are descendants of the Palestinians who were expelled from their homes during the war that ensued after Israel's establishment in 1948. Gaza was under British rule from 1918 to 1948 and then came under Egyptian control from 1948 onward. Israel occupied Gaza during the Third Middle East War in 1967, subsequently ruling it.
Afterward, Palestinians in Gaza carried out demonstrations and riots for years, and eventually, Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, transferring control to the Palestinian Authority. However, two years later, in 2007, Hamas, which positioned itself as an enemy of Israel, seized Gaza and turned it into a base for warfare against Israel, plunging the region back into chaos. Israel then imposed a blockade on Gaza following Hamas's rocket attacks and terrorist actions.
The New York Times (NYT) reported on the 5th, "Trump defined his idea as an opportunity for the residents of Gaza and economic development, but it opened a geopolitical Pandora's box that could have widespread implications in the Middle East." The way Gaza is governed has been a source of conflict between the Arab world and Israel for decades. The NYT also criticized, "Trump's proposal amounts to ethnic cleansing for the Palestinians and their allies."
In fact, Hamas, which has governed Gaza for the past 20 years, immediately rejected Trump's proposal. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, stated, "The residents of Gaza will not allow this plan to be realized."
◇ Enormous expense, who will bear it?
Trump likened his plan for Gaza to a real estate project in New York. He said, "If we can find the right piece of land or several pieces and build something really good there with a lot of money, it would be much better than returning to the previous Gaza."
However, it remains unclear where the funds for developing Gaza will come from. Trump claimed that Middle Eastern nations could financially support the resettlement of Palestinians, but did not provide details. He also did not clarify who would fund the transformation of Gaza into the Riviera or who would handle the construction. Trump maintains that the reconstruction costs for Gaza will be paid by other countries.
Egypt, a key U.S. partner, also opposes the development of Gaza, leading to an analysis that Trump's Gaza plan may be difficult to realize. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Support and reconstruction programs for Gaza must begin without the Palestinians leaving." On the 5th, Jordan's King Abdullah II stated, "We reject any attempts to displace the Palestinians and annex their land."
◇ Trump's plan violates international law
Above all, the occupation and ownership of the Gaza Strip by the U.S. lacks legitimacy as it violates international law. The Geneva Conventions (ratified by both the U.S. and Israel) prohibit the forcible displacement of populations. Forced expulsion or relocation of civilians is considered a violation of international humanitarian law, defined as a war crime and a crime against humanity. One of the most fundamental principles of international law prohibits a state from annexing all or part of another state's territory.
Conscious of this, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, currently on a tour of Latin America, met with reporters in Guatemala and explained that Trump merely suggested organizing and rebuilding Gaza, not that the U.S. would permanently occupy it. Minister Rubio stated, "Trump's comments only show the U.S.'s willingness to intervene, clean up the (war) debris, and clear the destruction."