Donald Trump is not a man in the habit of backing down.
His astonishing proposal to “own” Gaza and relocate two million Palestinians has faced unanimous opposition from America’s allies, but the president now has a plan and woe betide anyone who gets in the way. And that includes international law.
“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of the fighting,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Trump latest: Netanyahu backs ‘remarkable’ Gaza idea
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Nevermind that Gaza is not Israel’s land to turn over.
“The Palestinians… would have already been settled in safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.”
Nevermind that most countries in the region have angrily opposed this suggestion.
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Aware, perhaps, that the prospect of US troops being sent to Gaza, possibly for decades, would meet opposition in Congress, Trump added “no soldiers by the US would be needed!”
Well that clears one question up. But who would be responsible for security in Gaza then?
Local police officers who are affiliated to Hamas? Private security contractors made of former American soldiers, operating under rules of engagement set by who?
While most of the world is recoiling at all this, in Israel they are leaning into it. Hard.
The defence minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the IDF to prepare plans to allow Gazans to leave by land, sea or air. This is being framed as voluntary migration, giving Gazans the freedom to leave for a better life elsewhere.
Some might. But what if most don’t. Then what?
Voluntary migration sounds nice and all, but how voluntary would it be, really?
Read more:
White House appears to row back on Gaza proposal
What you need to know about Trump’s Gaza plan
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Palestinians, human rights organisations and others argue that after 15 and a half months of constant bombardment, Israel has left Gaza uninhabitable and so any departure would be down the barrel of guns that have been pointing at them for almost a year and a half.
Faced with all this, Trump, Netanyahu and their ministers continue to insist that only they know what’s best for Gazans.
Has anyone actually asked the people of Gaza?
