Trump's controversial Gaza relocation plan stirs opposition
The US and Israel are interested in relocating residents of the Gaza Strip to Syria, American television network CBS reported on Monday. One of the station's sources has indicated that the White House has already approached the new Syrian government through intermediaries.
However, a senior government official in Damascus has stated that he is not aware of any discussions regarding the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to Syria.
Trump's plan regarding the Gaza Strip
CBS has also confirmed findings from the Associated Press that US and Israeli authorities have been in contact regarding the potential relocation of Gaza residents with the governments of Sudan and Somalia.
Sudanese officials have stated that they have rejected the US proposals, while representatives of the Somali government have told journalists that they are not aware of such discussions.
According to the AP, the US has also explored the possibility of relocating Gaza residents to Somaliland, a self-declared state that is a separatist region in Somalia.
US President Donald Trump announced in February that the Gaza Strip should come under American control, and the Palestinians living there should be relocated to Arab countries. He presents this idea as a way to break the cycle of violence in the region and transform the devastated Gaza Strip into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
Ruined Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip has been devastated by over 15 months of conflict between Israel and the ruling group Hamas. Over 48,000 Palestinians have reportedly died in the fighting. The Israeli campaign began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on 7 October 2023, resulting in about 1,200 deaths.
In various statements about Gaza, Trump has articulated his proposal in different versions. The American president, for instance, has repeatedly suggested that Palestinians from Gaza should be accepted by Egypt and Jordan.
Both countries have strongly opposed Trump's vision, as have other Arab states, including Syria. Arab countries have also endorsed a plan prepared by Egypt for rebuilding the Gaza Strip. This plan involves reconstructing the territory without displacing the population and ultimately establishing an independent Palestinian state there and on the West Bank of the Jordan River. This proposal is seen as an alternative to Trump's plan.
The American president's vision was well-received by Israeli politicians. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had consistently maintained that the government had no intention of relocating Palestinians, stated in February that he viewed Trump’s plan as the most viable option for the region.
