Recently, US President Donald Trump spoke about the displacement of Gazas residents to Egypt, Jordan, and a group of neighbouring countries, as well as turning Gaza into an area under US control. This proposal sparked a wave of criticism and condemnation at various levels.

International reactions to the proposal

At the international level, the proposal was met with widespread criticism, with many observers considering it a violation of international law and human rights. Experts also pointed out that these statements reveal real intentions to eliminate the Palestinian cause by forcibly displacing Gazas residents.

This proposal comes at a sensitive time when various parties are working to solidify a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and are engaged in efforts to rebuild Gaza. It is also viewed as unrealistic and inconsistent with the fundamental principles of international law, further complicating the situation in the Middle East.

This proposal can be described as unethical, illegal, and a violation of human rights and the right of peoples to self-determination and to live freely in their homelands. It also reflects the state of moral decline in the world, as the Palestinian people have been subjected to genocide and the most horrific crimes for over a year and a half, with no genuine will to stop it. This comes on top of decades of racist occupation and Israeli colonialism, which is among the worst forms of colonisation in history.

The Palestinian stance on displacement

The idea of displacement has been proposed in various forms for many years, yet the Palestinian people remain steadfast in their historical homeland, which they have the right to live in freely and with dignity. Gaza has faced multiple attempts to displace its residents since its population was just 200,000, but all these attempts have failed. Despite various offers made to them, the people of Gaza have rejected them all, leaving them with no choice but to hold onto their land and their rights.

For Palestinians in Gaza, the idea of displacement is completely and categorically rejected. This rejection has been clearly expressed through both popular and official statements, inside and outside Gaza. After the great sacrifices made by Gazas people, especially during the recent genocide, displacement would mean squandering all those sacrifices and relinquishing the homeland.

Despite Gaza having endured devastating wars, heavy bombardments, starvation, and a suffocating Israeli blockade, its residents have continued to live there despite all hardships. Today, despite the destruction, the population of the Gaza Strip has reached nearly 2.3 million people, all of whom reject the idea of displacement.

The historical context of Palestinian displacement

The population of the Gaza Strip consists of those who lived there before the Israeli occupation, as well as those whom the occupation forcibly displaced in 1948 after Zionist militias committed brutal massacres against the residents of Palestinian villages.

At that time, international promises to displaced Palestinians claimed that their displacement was temporary and that they would soon return to their villages. However, after 76 years, Palestinians remain displaced to this day.

For this reason, Palestinians reject the idea of displacement, regardless of the terms used by the colonisers. Displacement, in all its forms, is unacceptable and cannot be beautified or legitimised in any way.

The Palestinian people, whose ancestors in 1948 were subjected to massacres and genocide aimed at forcibly displacing them, refuse to repeat this experience today. Even after 15 months of genocide carried out by Israel against Gaza resulting in more than 50,000 martyrs and hundreds of thousands of wounded and missing persons Palestinians in Gaza still reject displacement despite the horrific crimes targeting them daily.

What are the chances of the displacement plan succeeding?

Despite Palestinians’ rejection of displacement, the Israeli occupation and its supporters, including Trump, are betting on achieving it through various means. The occupation aims to push Palestinians to leave their homeland by continuing massacres, starvation, destruction, and depriving them of the most basic necessities of life.

Today, after the total devastation inflicted on Gaza, and with food, shelter, medical care, and security unavailable, international powers are attempting to exploit the suffering of Gazas residents. Reconstruction is being delayed, and impossible conditions are being imposed on aid delivery in an effort to force Palestinians into displacement.

But to what extent can a Palestinian who has lost their home and family members, endured starvation, freezing cold in winter, and scorching heat in summer, continue to endure? How long can they persevere while being deprived of medical care, education, food, and security?

Humans naturally have a limited capacity for endurance, though it varies from person to person. The continuation of the blockade, the lack of shelter, and the delay in aid may force some Palestinians to leave Gaza under coercion after exhausting all means of patience and endurance. This is what the Israeli occupation has been betting on since 1948, but it has not succeeded in Gaza to this day, and the city has never been emptied of its people, not even for a moment.

Some Palestinians may leave due to these circumstances, but they remain part of the Palestinian people, and the entire population will not leave, as the colonisers dream. Moreover, those who leave seek to support their families in Gaza financially, strengthening the resilience of those who remain inside the Strip, especially under the ongoing blockade and severe economic crises.

What should the world do?

Stopping this plan and preventing its implementation is a real test of the international communitys will and what remains of humanity in this world. Although most Arab and Western countries have issued statements rejecting this proposal, there are international responsibilities that must be upheld to protect the Palestinian people and their rights.

These commitments include providing humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, especially after the latest war, ensuring the entry of humanitarian assistance and construction materials, and immediately beginning Gazas reconstruction without conditions or blackmail. The world must also put an end to Israeli brutality and prevent the occupation from continuing its crimes against Palestinians. Additionally, Palestinians must be granted their legitimate rights, including establishing their state, determining their own destiny, freeing prisoners, controlling their own resources, and living with freedom and dignity.

For the international community, fulfilling these steps is a moral duty, not just a political obligation. Failure to do so would mark a disastrous collapse of the global ethical and human rights system and serve as undeniable proof of the world’s incapacity to protect even the most basic human rights.