It seems that neither Israel nor the US is willing to leave us, the people of Gaza, to exist in peace. Even after the announcement of a fragile ceasefire in the genocidal war perpetrated by the Israeli colonial occupation – backed by American support and brokered with Egyptian and Qatari guarantees – US President Donald Trump made yet another deeply contentious declaration. He proposed to “clean out that whole thing,” suggesting the relocation of “a million and a half” Palestinians to neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt, framing it as a so-called humanitarian solution.
I read his words twice, trying to grasp the full weight of what he meant by “thing.” It was unmistakable – he was referring to Gaza itself, a land that is home to over two million people who have endured decades of siege, bombardment and forced displacement. To Trump, Gaza is not a place of life, history and resistance but an obstacle to be erased, its people reduced to a problem for the US’ favorite spoiled child to “solve.”
Describing a phone call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Trump called Gaza “a real mess” and said that he urged King Abdullah to take in more Palestinians. He suggested the new arrangement could be temporary or long-term for the displaced, claiming it would allow them to “live in peace for a change.”
“I’d like Egypt to take people, and I’d like Jordan to take people,” he said. However, both Egypt and Jordan rejected the proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. …..more
