Washington, February 5, 2025: United States President Donald Trump’s shocking proposal to “take over” Gaza after forcibly displacing its Palestinian population has sparked worldwide condemnation, with critics warning that such a move would amount to ethnic cleansing and violate international law. Speaking at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Palestinians “would love to leave” Gaza and envisioned long-term U.S. control over the enclave, promising economic redevelopment.
His remarks triggered strong reactions from governments, international organizations, and human rights groups.
Hamas dismissed Trump’s remarks as a “recipe for chaos” and vowed that Palestinians would resist any displacement. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned the plan as an attempt to expel Palestinians from their land, warning that it would ignite further regional instability. Izzat el-Reshiq echoed this sentiment, calling the proposal “absurd” and accusing the U.S. of blatant bias in favor of Israel.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) firmly rejected any forced displacement, with Secretary-General Hussein al-Sheikh reaffirming that the only viable solution is a two-state resolution under international law.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas denounced the proposal, declaring that Palestinians would not allow their rights to be violated after decades of struggle and sacrifice. He emphasized that peace cannot be achieved without an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Palestine’s UN envoy, Riyad Mansour, responded by demanding that Palestinians be allowed to return to their original homes in what is now Israel, rather than being displaced under Trump’s plan.
Middle Eastern reactions
Saudi Arabia strongly opposed Trump’s proposal, reaffirming that it will not normalize ties with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state. The kingdom rejected any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians and labeled their right to remain on their land as non-negotiable.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held discussions with Palestinian officials, emphasizing the importance of rebuilding Gaza without displacing its people.
Iran categorically opposed any Palestinian displacement and warned against U.S.-backed policies that could escalate tensions in the region.
Global responses
Russia rejected the proposal, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov condemning Israeli plans for full control of the West Bank and displacement of Gazans. The Kremlin reaffirmed that a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace.
China opposed any forced transfer of Palestinians and urged all parties to use post-war governance as an opportunity to revive political negotiations based on a two-state solution.
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called Trump’s comments “unacceptable,” warning that sidelining Palestinians would lead to further conflict. He also signaled that Turkiye might reconsider its actions against Israel depending on changes in Gaza’s humanitarian situation.
The European Union widely condemned the plan. Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, rejecting their forced expulsion as a violation of international law. France echoed this stance, calling any mass displacement a destabilizing factor for the entire region. Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares insisted that Gazans must remain in their homeland, while Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Harris emphasized that a two-state solution is the only legitimate outcome.
The United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Minister David Lammy reaffirmed that Palestinians must be allowed to rebuild their homeland and that any solution must respect their right to remain.
U.S. domestic criticism
Trump’s plan also faced backlash within the United States. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) dismissed it as reckless, warning that a U.S. invasion of Gaza would lead to massive casualties and prolonged war. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) called it “ethnic cleansing by another name” and urged Congress to oppose the proposal. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, condemned Trump’s remarks as part of a bipartisan push to enable genocide in Gaza.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) declared that Gaza belongs to its Palestinian residents and warned that forcibly expelling them would constitute a crime against humanity.
Human rights organizations and the UN
Amnesty International warned that Trump’s proposal to remove all Palestinians from Gaza amounted to the destruction of an entire people. Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories, called the plan “unlawful, immoral, and irresponsible,” warning that it would escalate regional instability and constitute an international crime.
