Hamas has called on its supporters worldwide to take up arms in response to US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate over two million Gazans to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. The plan has faced strong opposition from Arab nations and international organizations.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, described the plan as a combination of “massacres and starvation.” In a statement, he urged anyone capable of fighting to act, calling for the use of explosives, bullets, knives, and stones to resist the initiative.
His call for resistance follows an offer by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow Hamas leaders to leave Gaza if the group agrees to disarm. While Hamas has expressed willingness to relinquish governance of Gaza, it insists that its weapons remain off the negotiating table.
Netanyahu has reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to facilitating what he calls a “voluntary migration plan” for Gazans. The proposal initially sought to relocate all 2.4 million residents of the war-torn territory to other countries.
Trump introduced the idea after taking office in January, suggesting that Egypt and Jordan could absorb displaced Palestinians. However, both nations rejected the plan, along with several other Arab governments, which warned of worsening the humanitarian crisis.
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Following global backlash, Trump later stated that his administration would not force Palestinians out of Gaza. His mid-March remarks, where he declared that “nobody’s expelling any Palestinians,” were welcomed by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
In response, Arab nations have put forward an alternative initiative focused on rebuilding Gaza without displacing its population. Their proposal envisions the Palestinian Authority taking administrative control of the territory.
The possibility of forced displacement has reignited memories of the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe,” when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were uprooted during Israel’s creation. Many Palestinians fear that history could repeat itself under the current plans.
Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz previously announced steps to establish a special agency to support Gazans who choose to leave voluntarily. The initiative includes financial aid and logistical assistance for migration to third countries. The Israeli military has also been tasked with drafting a formal plan to facilitate departures.
Meanwhile, hostilities in Gaza have escalated, with Israel resuming intense airstrikes and launching a new ground offensive on March 18. The death toll continues to rise, with thousands of civilians among the casualties.
Agency report
