Brennen Brothers, news editor

On Feb. 11, Pres. Donald Trump and the Jordanian King Abdullah II met at the White House to discuss Trump’s plan to “take over” the Gaza strip, moving Palestinians to neighbouring countries like Jordan and Egypt. Trump has expressed that he would withhold aid to Jordan and Egypt if they did not agree to take the residents of Gaza. Abdullah II has announced he would take in 2,000 children who are sick or have cancer and provide them with medical treatment, stated NPR. 

After the meeting with Trump, Abdullah II made a statement on X saying, “I reiterated Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. […] Rebuilding Gaza without displacing the Palestinians and addressing the dire humanitarian situation should be the priority for all.” According to ABC, Egypt’s foreign ministry has voiced that they want to present a vision for the reconstruction of the Gaza strip, without displacing Palestinians. Abdullah II has said that the two nations will meet and present a plan to Trump, reported NPR.

Reuters has recounted the statements Trump has made about Gaza and they have noted that he is committed to owning Gaza. US News states that Trump would see the redevelopment as the “Riviera of the Middle East” and wants to level it out, create a supply of jobs and housing for the people in the area. “There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished. Everything’s demolished,” he said to reporters as he was attending the Super Bowl, according to Reuters. He also mentioned building a permanent home for Palestinians, where they would have “much better housing,” said US News. The BBC indicated that Trump has also said Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza, and he suggested building “safe communities” outside of the Gaza strip.

This proposal has been reprimanded by many, including United States’ allies, surrounding countries and the United Nations. In a quote to Reuters Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, stated, “Gaza is not a property to be sold and bought. It is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land.” Hassan Jabareen, the director of Palestinian rights group Adalah, said in a quote to The Guardian, “To ‘clean’ Gaza immediately after the war would in fact be a continuation of the war, through the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.”

The New York Times reported about what international law says about Trump’s proposal. They stated that forced deportation or transfer of a civilization is a violation of international humanitarian law. Additionally the “right of return” principle, which allows people to enter their own country, is a part of many treaties which the United States have signed and this plan would violate them.

While nothing in this plan has been officially implemented, only time will tell if Trump’s plan will come to fruition.