Kenya, Aug. 31 -- President Donald Trump's shocking proposal to ethnically cleanse Gaza by "voluntarily" evicting over 2 million Palestinians and transforming the territory into a luxury hotel destination has ignited international outrage, with reports from The Washington Post highlighting his vision to fulfil Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's long-standing wishes.
This Tru-Gazaza ethnic cleansing plan, unveiled during a White House press conference on February 4, 2025, alongside Netanyahu, envisions the U.S. assuming "long-term" ownership of the war-ravaged enclave, relocating its residents to neighbouring countries like Egypt and Jordan, and redeveloping it as the "Riviera of the Middle East," complete with high-end hotels and economic hubs.
Critics, including human rights organisations and UN officials, have condemned the scheme as a blatant war crime, emphasising its roots in forced displacement and violations of international humanitarian law, while Netanyahu has praised it as a "remarkable" idea worth pursuing.
The plan stems from Trump's real estate background, where he likened Gaza's devastation, caused by Israel's 16-month military campaign following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, to a "demolition site" ripe for redevelopment.
During the conference, Trump stated the U.S. would "own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs", levelling structures, and creating "thousands of jobs" through tourism and hospitality projects, explicitly excluding Palestinians from returning.
He suggested Palestinians would be "thrilled" to relocate to "beautiful areas with nice homes," framing the eviction as voluntary humanitarian aid, though experts note the coercion inherent in Gaza's unlivable conditions after over 47,000 deaths and widespread destruction of infrastructure.
Netanyahu, facing domestic pressure from far-right coalition partners, signalled support without a full endorsement, aligning with his government's history of settlement expansion and displacement policies in occupied territories.
This move fulfils Netanyahu's reported aspirations for a Gaza free of Palestinian presence, which would allow for Israeli control or U.S.-backed development, according to analyses from outlets like The New York Times and Al Jazeera.
Global backlash has been swift and multifaceted, representing diverse stakeholders from Arab nations to Western allies. Egypt and Jordan, targeted as relocation hosts, rejected the proposal outright, with Egypt's Foreign Ministry stressing reconstruction "without moving the Palestinians out" and Jordan's King Abdullah II affirming no acceptance of displacement.
Saudi Arabia reiterated its refusal to normalise ties with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state, considering the plan an infringement on Palestinian rights.
Hamas labelled the proposal as "ridiculous and absurd," describing it as a "recipe for chaos" and vowing that Gazans would resist any attempts at expulsion.
In the U.S., Democrats like Sen. Chris Van Hollen called it "ethnic cleansing by another name," while even some Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, questioned its practicality.
Human Rights Watch warned it escalates forced displacement to war crimes or crimes against humanity, citing international law prohibitions on permanent transfers from occupied territories.
UN investigator Navi Pillay deemed it illegal, supporting potential ICC charges of apartheid against Israel and complicity for the U.S.
The proposal disrupts fragile ceasefire negotiations brokered under the Biden administration, which included phased hostage releases and reconstruction without displacement.
Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, later clarified that no U.S. troops or funds would be committed, framing relocation as temporary, but the president doubled down on Truth Social, insisting on permanent resettlement for "safer communities."
Analysts argue this aligns with Jared Kushner's earlier view of Gaza as "valuable waterfront property", prioritising profit over Palestinian self-determination.
Economically, redeveloping Gaza into a hotel haven ignores the $520 billion reconstruction cost estimated by the World Bank, plus ongoing security risks from unexploded ordnance and tunnels.
Politically, it risks destabilising U.S. allies like Egypt and Jordan, already hosting millions of Palestinian refugees, potentially fuelling Islamist backlash and regional unrest.
This Trump Gaza ethnic cleansing plan not only revives painful memories of the 1948 Nakba, when 750,000 Palestinians were displaced, but it also threatens to derail U.S.-brokered peace efforts, including Saudi-Israeli normalisation tied to Palestinian statehood.
As White House officials backtrack on details like troop deployment, the core idea persists, raising fears of prolonged conflict and humanitarian catastrophe. For stakeholders monitoring Middle East policy shifts, Trump's approach signals a departure from bipartisan support for a two-state solution, prioritising unilateral redevelopment over justice and coexistence.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.