Drawing by Kichka
Real estate developer Donald Trump has come up with a solution to one of the most complex challenges facing the new U.S. president: What to do with Gaza if the agreement, signed under his pressure between Hamas and Israel, is fully implemented and the war comes to an end? His proposed solution is to “simply” relocate 2 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to make way for a new Riviera, complete with casinos and golf courses!
Like any good developer, Trump claims to have secured funding for his plan by involving Saudi and Emirati investors. However, there remains “one small problem”: where to relocate this population—assuming they would even agree to leave? He insists he can use financial incentives to pressure Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah into accepting them. But both leaders, along with the rest of the Arab world, immediately and unanimously rejected this project, which would destabilize their already fragile nations.
Only the Israeli right and far-right, unexpectedly pleased by the announcement, are pretending to believe in the feasibility of this reckless proposal. Even Netanyahu appeared unsettled when Trump made the announcement during their joint press conference. However, the plan at least offers Netanyahu a temporary political lifeline as he faces two critical deadlines: securing the support of his far-right allies, who oppose the agreement that could lead to an end to the war, and passing the budget before March 31—something the ultra-Orthodox parties have threatened to block unless military exemptions are granted for their yeshiva students.
We strongly denounce this unrealistic and dangerous project, which, if implemented, would amount to ethnic cleansing. Israeli NGOs advocating for a political resolution based on a two-state solution, along with Jewish organizations in the diaspora—including ours—firmly oppose it. Yes, Gaza’s cities must be rebuilt, but this must be done in partnership with the Palestinian people, who must find an alternative to Hamas to govern the region, with all the necessary international support.
This announcement now puts the lives of hostages still held by Hamas in even greater danger. The ceasefire agreement must continue to ensure the war comes to an end. Once that happens, a strong international effort—led by the intermediaries currently involved in negotiations—must relaunch a political process between Israelis and Palestinians. The only viable solution to this conflict remains a two-state solution.
