Why Trump’s proposal alarms Palestinians
For Palestinians and Arab nations, it sounded like a dangerous throwback to a painful past.For Palestinians, the proposal evokes painful memories of the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were displaced during Israel’s creation. Many fear that a US-led intervention could set the stage for another forced exodus.
As per reports, around 700,000 people were forced to leave their homes in 1948 during the creation of Israel. The latest war, which has already displaced nearly 85% of Gaza’s population, has only deepened fears of another mass exodus.
With Israel’s offensive pushing civilians from one “safe zone” to another — only for those areas to be bombed soon after — many Gazans are already living in makeshift shelters, unsure if they will ever return home.
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Trump’s suggestion has fuelled concerns that external forces taking control of Gaza could permanently uproot Palestinians. A Hamas official dismissed the idea as “ridiculous” and warned it could inflame tensions further.Could Palestinians be forced to leave Gaza?
Despite Israel’s repeated claims that it has no intention of expelling Palestinians from Gaza, comments from far-right Israeli politicians have done little to ease concerns. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has openly called for “voluntary migration” of Palestinians — language that many see as a coded push for forced displacement.
Arab nations, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have firmly opposed any attempt to push Palestinians out of Gaza. Riyadh, which Trump claimed was softening its stance on Palestinian statehood, has made it clear that normalising ties with Israel is off the table without an independent Palestinian state.
What does this mean for the region?
The war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has already killed over 47,000 people, according to Palestinian health officials. While a fragile ceasefire is in place, any attempt to redraw Gaza’s future without Palestinian input is likely to deepen hostilities.
Arab states, already furious over the ongoing Israeli offensive, see Trump’s remarks as yet another provocation.
As tensions in Gaza remain high and a fragile ceasefire hangs by a thread, Trump’s remarks have only added to the uncertainty. While it is yet to be seen if his proposal is materialised, it certainly has ignited debates on power, displacement, and the future of Palestine.
— With agency inputs
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