The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the last remaining projects of ‘settler colonialism’ in modern history. It has seen numerous ideas and schemes to end the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people, who continue their relentless quest for independence and freedom. However, the recent proposal by US President Donald Trump to “annex” the Gaza Strip is undoubtedly the most controversial and disturbing.
Like the evil character “Joker” from the Batman movie series, Trump thrives on chaos and the subversion of established principles. He wants to forcibly resettle the Palestinian population of Gaza in neighbouring Arab countries and turn the war-torn enclave into a “the Riviera of the Middle East”. Many seasoned commentators have called the idea as being nonsense, unlawful, immoral, irresponsible and worse than ethnic cleansing.
According to UN Special Rapporteur, Francesca Albanese, “This is not just forced displacement; it is an escalation of an ongoing crime. It will worsen the regional crisis and further isolate the US on the global stage.”
Trump’s Gaza plan has generated confusion and anger around the world. In fact, it has united the people and the rulers of the Muslim-majority countries in an unprecedented manner.
A Modern-Day Nakba?
At the core of Trump’s proposal is the idea of forcibly removing around 2.3 million Palestinians from Gaza and relocating them to neighbouring Arab countries, leaving the Gaza Strip empty of its local residents. This plan appears to be a throwback to the events of 1948, when more than 700,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes during the Israeli occupation, an event that Palestinians remember as the “Nakba” or catastrophe. The Nakba is a deeply painful memory for Palestinians, a symbol of homelessness and migration that has been imposed on their lives for decades. If Trump’s plan is implemented, it will be a second Nakba.
This proposal is not only unethical but also illegal under international law which prohibits forced migration of populations. The United Nations has repeatedly affirmed the right to return of these displaced Palestinians, a right that Israel has systematically denied. By supporting the forced eviction of Palestinians, Trump is advocating a policy that violates basic human rights and international legal principles.
Israeli Far-Right Agenda
Trump’s proposal is not an isolated idea but a reflection of the long-standing legacy of Israel’s far-right regime. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Treasury Secretary Bezalel Smotrich have openly advocated the annexation of Gaza and the eviction of its Palestinian residents. Smotrich, in particular, has presented Trump’s proposal as a “solution to the Palestinian issue” and said that the perpetrators of the 7 October 2023 attack should be “forever deprived of their land.”
During his presidency, Trump unilaterally recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s seat of government, moved the US embassy to the contested city, and asserted Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. Now, by proposing annexation of Gaza, he is further emboldening Israeli extremists who view the entire land from the Jordan River to the Gulf as “God-given property” for Jews.
This view, rooted in religious and national extremism, leaves no room for self-respect for Palestinians and threatens to destroy any possibility of a just and lasting peace.
Rejection by Arab States and Muslim World
Fortunately, Trump’s plan has been roundly rejected by Arab countries, including key US allies Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. These countries have made it clear that they will not participate in the forced resettlement of Palestinians, as any such action would not only violate international law but would also further escalate tensions throughout the region.
Egypt and Jordan have historical and demographic reasons to oppose the plan. They host large numbers of Palestinian refugees and fully understand the political and social consequences of such displacement. Saudi Arabia, which has played a key role in the recent process of improving relations with Israel, has made it clear that any future improvement in relations with Israel depends on the creation of an independent Palestinian state. This view reflects the broader sentiment of the Arab and Muslim world. The idea of forcibly resettling Palestinians in Saudi territory, proposed by some Israeli officials, has been dismissed as impractical and insulting.
End of Two-State Solution?
One of the most worrying aspects of Trump’s proposal is that it could destroy the lingering hopes of a two-state solution. For decades, the international community has championed the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, which is seen as the only possible path to peace. However, the Netanyahu regime has systematically undermined this vision by expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, solidifying Eastern Jerusalem, and now advocating the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.
Trump’s vision is completely in sync with the agenda of the Israeli extreme right, which seeks the establishment of a “Greater Israel” encompassing the entire territory of historical Palestine. Trump is in fact advocating a one-sided state solution in which Palestinians are either evicted or reduced to second-class citizens in a Jewish-majority state.
Normalisation of War Crimes
The most alarming aspect of Trump’s proposal is that it normalises war crimes and ethnic cleansing. Under the Rome Statute, such forced displacement is a crime against humanity, and under the Fourth Geneva Convention, it is a crime to expel civilians from occupied territories.
Emboldened by Trump’s proposal, the Israeli government has escalated its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Even as the ceasefire in Gaza began, the Israeli military has conducted a brutal campaign in the West Bank, displacing thousands of Palestinians from their homes.
The Trump Gaza plan also sends a dangerous message to other authoritative and hegemonic governments that they can pursue their agenda of unjust expansion and violating the territorial integrity of other nations without inviting international censure.
Will the Ummah Respond?
For many Muslims, the plight of Palestinians is not just a political issue but also a moral and religious issue. At the heart of the Israeli occupation of Palestine is the loss of Al Quds which houses the Masjid Al Aqsa – the third most holy place for Muslims.
The idea of uprooting millions of Palestinians from their land is seen as an attack on the Muslim Ummah and a violation of Islamic principles of rights and unity. The Ummah must not only reject this evil proposal but also keep trying their utmost till Palestine is freed.