Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested relocating the people of Gaza to a new and better area, calling their current home a “demolition site.” Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, he proposed that Gazans be moved to Egypt or Jordan, although neither country has shown interest in the idea.
Trump argued that Gaza has never been a successful place to live and believes a fresh start elsewhere could be beneficial. He described his approach as “thinking differently” and suggested giving Gazans “a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land.”
When a reporter asked what would happen if the people of Gaza did not want to leave, Trump responded, “I don’t see why they would want to stay. It’s a pure demolition site.” For years, strict border controls by Israel and Egypt made it difficult for Gaza’s residents to leave even before the war.
Trump elaborated on his idea, saying, “I think people can live in places that are safer, better, and more comfortable.”
His proposal was welcomed by some far-right Israeli politicians, but Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond, according to CNN. One supporter of the idea, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party, agreed with Trump’s assessment that Gaza is “a breeding ground for terror.” Smotrich believes that encouraging migration is the only long-term solution for peace in the region.
Smotrich, who is also involved in Israel’s military administration, claimed he is working on a plan to implement Trump’s vision. He expressed confidence in Trump’s ability to make things happen, saying, “When he wants something, it happens.” Since 2023, Smotrich has promoted what he calls “the voluntary emigration of Gaza’s Arab residents to other countries.”
Despite these suggestions, Arab nations have already rejected Trump’s plan, making it unclear how such an idea could be realistically implemented.
Trump’s comments have sparked significant discussion, with some seeing it as a possible solution while others criticize it as impractical and controversial. The future of Gaza remains uncertain, and any potential relocation plan would face major political and humanitarian challenges.
