US President Donald Trump has once again suggested permanently resettling the people of Gaza outside the Palestinian enclave, describing it as a “demolition site” unfit for human habitation. His comments, made during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on February 4, have ignited fierce condemnation from Palestinian leaders and Arab states, who view the proposal as a blatant attempt at forced displacement.

Trump’s remarks come at a sensitive time, as a six-week ceasefire remains in effect following fifteen months of intense conflict between Israel and Hamas. The war, which began in October 2023, has left Gaza devastated, with over 90% of its population-approximately 1.9 million people-displaced, according to the UN.

“You can’t live in Gaza right now, and I think we need another location,” Trump stated. “If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people permanently in nice homes, where they can be happy and not be shot, not be killed, not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”

Trump, a former real estate developer, likened Gaza to a “demolition site,” pointing out the widespread destruction. “There’s hardly a building standing, and the ones that are going to collapse,” he said, emphasizing the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance and unstable structures. The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that approximately 92% of homes in Gaza have been destroyed or severely damaged.

The US president suggested that neighboring countries, particularly Jordan and Egypt, could accommodate displaced Palestinians. However, these nations have categorically rejected such proposals. A joint statement issued on February 1 by Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the........

© Blitz