GAZA, (PIC)
After Palestinians in the Gaza Strip thwarted Israeli plans for forced displacement with tremendous sacrifices—resulting in the blood of tens of thousands of martyrs and wounded mingling with the soil of the land they cherish—U.S. President Donald Trump came forward to resurrect the plan without a clear vision, ignoring the Palestinians’ steadfast determination to remain in their land, which they refuse to leave no matter the sacrifices.
Trump reintroduces the displacement plan
At a time when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were awaiting their return to northern Gaza, effectively derailing Israel’s forced displacement plan announced at the start of its genocidal war, Trump made remarks suggesting the potential relocation of over a million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries. This was during a phone call with Jordanian King Abdullah II.
Trump told reporters on Saturday evening (January 25): “I asked Jordan to accept more Palestinians because I see that Gaza is in chaos. It’s a tragic situation that must be addressed.” He added that he would discuss the possibility of housing Palestinians in Egypt with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, stating: “You’re talking about one and a half million people, and we will just remove this issue altogether.”
At the beginning of the genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023, Israeli officials presented a plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza to Sinai, aiming to push hundreds of thousands to flee to Rafah amidst bombings and starvation. However, Palestinians resisted and stood firm, while Egypt expressed its outright rejection of the Israeli plans.
Reintroducing an old Israeli plan
Trump’s comments align with longstanding Israeli plans to depopulate Gaza of its Palestinian residents, part of a broader, inhumane forced displacement effort aimed at erasing their presence on their land.
Experts believe these remarks come at a sensitive time, just one week after the ceasefire began, with hurdles that could be resolved for the return of displaced people to their homes, while the region continues to suffer from the massive destruction caused by Israel’s war, which has devastated over 70% of Gaza’s buildings.
Palestinian and Arab rejection
As always, various Palestinian groups, both official and popular, have expressed their firm rejection of forced displacement plans at any cost. There is a consensus that what Trump is proposing is merely a repeat of previous Israeli attempts aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause.
While Egypt and Jordan have not yet issued immediate comments on Trump’s remarks, both countries have previously made their stance clear. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi had refused the idea of displacing Palestinians as part of a broader plan to rid the region of its Palestinian population, while King Abdullah II stressed that any attempt to displace Palestinians to Jordan is a “red line.”
Forced displacement an Israeli plan
Israeli affairs expert Dr. Ibrahim Abu Jaber pointed out that displacement plans are a prominent issue in Israel, stating that “everyone in Israel aims to displace as many Palestinians as possible, whether tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands. Netanyahu has been courting Trump from the beginning. I wouldn’t rule out that this idea came through Netanyahu’s office.”
Dr. Abu Jaber added: “There is agreement within the Israeli government, from the right-wing to some left-wing sectors, that displacement is the best solution to the conflict. However, this solution cannot succeed.”
The Palestinian people’s firmness in their land
Palestinians in Gaza, who have been lining up for days along Salah al-Din and al-Rasheed streets waiting to return to Gaza City after months of displacement, reaffirm their rejection of any attempt at forced displacement. They declare their unwavering commitment to the right of return to their towns and villages in Palestine, which have been occupied since 1948.
For 15 months, the occupation sought to empty Gaza and the northern governorates through dozens of displacement orders and deadly raids, but hundreds of thousands stood firm, confronting death and starvation, and foiled the displacement plan.
Throughout the years, Gaza has shown unparalleled resilience in the face of Israeli attacks. The Palestinian people remain steadfast in their land, despite the bloodshed and sacrifices they have endured.
Dr. Abu Jaber stresses that “executing this plan is not easy, as it would conflict with any future settlement. The Palestinian people refuse forced displacement under any circumstances. Thousands preferred martyrdom over emigration, and they will not accept having their land used as an experiment by others.”
Despite repeated attempts to propose displacement plans, Palestinians remain resolute in staying rooted in their land and continue their path of resistance to preserve their presence on their land, affirming that their national rights are non-negotiable and cannot be relinquished.