Israeli Proposed Strategy of Demographic Change in Gaza: Trump's Idea of Forcing Gaza's Inhabitants to Move to Egypt and Jordan Denied by Both Countries
Take Two: Ethnic Cleansing Under a New Light
Caitlin Johnstone | CaitlinJohnstone.com.au
It only took days for President Trump's colorful language to paint a chilling reality: displacing Gaza's population to make way for Israeli expansion. Trump's dodgy proposition, veiled as humanitarian concern, would cater to the Israeli desire to purge Palestinians from their ancestral homeland.
While aboard Air Force One, Trump spoke with the press about relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan. His plan? "Clean out" Gaza and create room for a "fantastic" future. With such a massive operation potentially uprooting 1.5 million Palestinians, it would be hard to deny the ethnic cleansing implications.
But don't be fooled by Trump supporters peddling it as a sorry bid to rescue Palestinians. Skepticism is warranted; this proposed resettlement would hardly be "voluntary migration."
History in the making
Tracing back to 1948, Israel's land-grabbing from Palestinians and its unwillingness to return occupied territories has only intensified the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Take, for example, the 1967 Six-Day War, during which Israel seized the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Golan Heights and established over 149 settlements - still standing today. These settlements perturbo Palestinian life, stealing resources, and infringing upon their land.
Gaza in the Crosshairs
The situation in Gaza is particularly concerning. The blockade, ongoing military operations, and a perpetual displacement of its population have rendered Gaza uninhabitable. Trump's plan, though cloaked in political ambivalence, has sent a shiver down Palestinians' spines: their possible erasure from Gaza.
One might wonder if Israel's rhetoric has grown more emboldened. Lately, far-right Knesset members have called for the "complete cleansing" of northern Gaza, while Israeli defense ministers stated outright that Israel is ethnically cleansing Gaza.
Refusing to acknowledge the severity of this situation would be naïve. The expulsion of Palestinians from their homes would fulfill the darkest aspirations of depraved Israeli factions.
Joe Lauria of Consortium News eloquently summarized Trump's comments: "He tried to present what he was saying as a humanitarian concern, but only the ignorant would not see he is talking about committing the crime of forcibly relocating a population." Indeed, one can only hope that Jordan and Egypt have the good sense to reject such farce.
Still, it's uncertain whether they will stand their ground amidst potential bribery and coercion by the Trump administration. We'll have to wait and see if human rights can prevail over political agenda.
Trump's proposal, disguised as a humanitarian concern, raises questions about the relocating of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, increasing the possibility of ethnic cleansing, as the history of war-and-conflicts between Israel and Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, has had a devastating impact on their lives and access to their ancestral lands. The political ambitions of Trump and the Israeli government might lead to the general-news of human rights violations and the truth of forced population displacement.
