Former President Donald Trump recently said that Palestinians in Gaza would not be allowed to return to their homes under his plan. This statement contradicts what some of his own officials had said earlier. They claimed that Trump only wanted Palestinians to be relocated temporarily.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump made it clear that he wants the U.S. to take control of Gaza and turn it into a major development project, calling it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He suggested moving Palestinians to other locations away from danger and said the U.S. would “own” Gaza like a real estate project.
Many Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, strongly oppose Trump’s idea. They fear that accepting large numbers of Palestinian refugees could create security risks and disrupt efforts for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Trump’s remarks also come at a sensitive time, as he is scheduled to meet Jordan’s King Abdullah II at the White House.
Trump’s comments could further complicate peace efforts in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire is in place after months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. Currently, international talks focus on providing humanitarian aid and rebuilding Gaza, rather than relocating its people.
After Trump first spoke about his plan last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Secretary of State Marco Rubio tried to clarify his stance. They insisted that he only wanted to move Palestinians temporarily to help clear debris, remove dangerous explosives, and rebuild the area. However, Trump himself did not rule out sending U.S. troops to secure the region. At the same time, he said no American funds would be used for Gaza’s reconstruction, leaving many questions about how his plan would work.
Egypt has strongly rejected any plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank. The Egyptian government insists that a lasting peace can only come from creating an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital. They believe Palestinians have a right to return to their homeland and should not be forced to leave permanently.
Hamas leaders have also condemned Trump’s proposal. Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, called Trump’s idea “absurd” and accused him of treating Palestine like a business deal. He insisted that Palestinians would resist any attempts to remove them from their land.
Overall, Trump’s remarks have sparked strong opposition from Arab nations and Palestinian leaders, making it unclear how his plan could ever be implemented.
