President Donald Trump’s pronouncement on the “take over” of Gaza Strip and permanent displacement of Palestinians has sparked a global outrage.
Speaking at a joint White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump claimed Gaza could be redeveloped into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
The statement immediately triggered backlash across the Middle East and beyond. Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour countered that displaced Gazans should instead be allowed to return to their former homes inside Israel. “There are nice places there, and they will be happy to return,” he said.
Arab nations reject forced displacement
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry issued a statement reaffirming its “complete rejection of any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
The ministry condemned “attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land” and urged the international community to focus on alleviating suffering in Gaza.
A coalition of Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, had already dismissed a previous suggestion from Trump that Gazans be relocated to neighbouring countries. The group warned that any forced transfer would destabilise the region and “undermine the chances of peace and coexistence.”
U.S. lawmakers denounce proposal
Trump’s remarks also drew strong criticism from American politicians. Senator Chris Murphy of Democratic of Connecticut dismissed the idea, suggesting it was meant to divert attention from billionaire influence over the U.S. government. “We aren’t taking over Gaza,” he posted online, accusing Trump of using the controversy as a distraction.
Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, went further, calling the proposal “ethnic cleansing by another name.” He warned that such rhetoric would strengthen U.S. adversaries like Iran while undermining key Arab allies.
Former Republican Congressman Justin Amash, whose family is of Palestinian descent, echoed those concerns. “If the United States deploys troops to forcibly remove Muslims and Christians—like my cousins—from Gaza, then… it will be guilty of the crime of ethnic cleansing,” he stated.
Trump dismisses opposition
Despite widespread condemnation, Trump appeared unfazed. When asked whether Palestinians would resist relocation, he responded, “I don’t think they’re going to tell me no.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, reacted with enthusiasm. He posted in Hebrew thanking Trump and later wrote in English, “Together, we will make the world great again,” alongside Israeli and U.S. flag emojis.
Global pushback grows
Nihad Awad, head of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, warned that forced expulsion from Gaza would damage the U.S.’s international reputation and violate international law. “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States,” Awad declared.
As diplomatic pressure mounts, world leaders continue to push back against Trump’s proposal, emphasising the need for a Palestinian-led reconstruction effort in Gaza rather than foreign intervention.
Reported by BBC
