Washington: Former US President Donald Trump has stated that Palestinians have “no alternative” but to leave Gaza due to the destruction caused by Israel. His remarks effectively endorse the displacement of Gaza’s population, despite strong opposition from Palestinian leaders and neighbouring countries, The Guardian reported.
Ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump reiterated his stance that Palestinians should be relocated to Jordan and Egypt—an idea both nations have firmly rejected. He claimed that many in Gaza would welcome the opportunity to leave, describing the region as a “pure demolition site” after 16 months of war.
“If we could find the right land and build beautiful, safe places for them, that would be much better than going back to Gaza,” Trump said, suggesting relocation to Jordan, Egypt, or other regions. When asked about the rights of displaced Palestinians to return, he stated his hope that they would prefer to stay in new settlements instead.
His remarks were met with sharp criticism. A senior Hamas official denounced the proposal as a “recipe for chaos and tension in the region,” while Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the UN, emphasized that Gaza remains the rightful homeland for its people, the international media reported.
In addition to his Gaza comments, Trump confirmed that the US would withdraw from the UN Human Rights Council and halt funding for the UN agency assisting Palestinians in occupied territories. He also reinstated his “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran, aiming to curb its oil exports and prevent nuclear weapon development, though he expressed openness to negotiations with Iranian leaders.