Trump maintains that no one is deporting Palestinians, contradicting his previous stance suggesting their relocation to Arab countries.
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In a surprising turn of events, U.S. President Donald Trump seemingly walked back his plans for Gaza during a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin. Trump stated, "Nobody's expelling any Palestinians." This seems to be a departure from his previous assertions that the enclave's 2.1 million Palestinians should be relocated.
Trump's plans for Gaza have been clouded in controversy and confusion. He suggested that the Palestinians be relocated to Arab states such as Egypt and Jordan following Israel's war with Hamas, and even proposed that the U.S. take control of the Strip, transforming it into a Middle Eastern paradise—a Gaza Riviera.
During a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan last month, he shared his vision, saying, "We're moving them to a beautiful location where they have new homes, where they can live safely, where they'll have doctors and medical and all of those things. And I think it's going to be great."
Yet, his latest statement adds to the confusion. It's uncertain whether this marks a shift in U.S. foreign policy, as Trump has made contradictory remarks about his administration's plans for Gaza.
Following strong opposition from Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, Trump claimed his vision for Gaza without Palestinians was merely a suggestion. He told Fox News, "The way to do it is my plan. I think that's the plan that really works. But I'm not forcing it. I'm just going to sit back and recommend it."
In early March, Arab nations endorsed a long-awaited plan for Gaza's reconstruction, but the Trump administration swiftly rejected it, with National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes stating the Arab proposal "does not address the reality that Gaza is currently uninhabitable and residents cannot humanely live in a territory covered in debris and unexploded ordnance."
Hamas welcomed Trump's latest statement cautiously, with Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qasem declaring it was welcomed if it represented a "reversal of the idea of displacing the people of the Gaza strip." Egypt's foreign ministry and the Palestine Liberation Organization also appreciated Trump's statements.
Trump's previous comments about taking control of Gaza caused alarm among Palestinians. The president, known for his real estate empire, described Gaza as a "demolition site" that would be "leveled out" and "fixed up."
"I think that it's a big mistake to allow people - the Palestinians, or the people living in Gaza - to go back yet another time, and we don't want Hamas going back. And think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it and we'll slowly — very slowly, we're in no rush — develop it. We're going to bring stability to the Middle East soon," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One last month.
Trump first put forth this proposal during a joint press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month. Netanyahu has since described Trump's plan as a "revolutionary, creative vision."
Israel's war with Hamas has left homes, businesses, and infrastructure in ruins throughout the Strip. It has also claimed nearly 50,000 Palestinian lives, according to Gaza's health ministry.
CNN's Ibrahim Dahman and Kareem El Damanhoury contributed reporting.
- The relocated Palestinians, originally intended to be moved to Arab states such as Egypt and Jordan, might now be able to remain in Gaza following Donald Trump's controversial plan, as he recently stated, "Nobody's expellingany Palestinians."
- The stability of the Middle East could potentially be impacted if the U.S. government decides to reconsider their controversial plan to transform Gaza into a Middle Eastern paradise, as initially proposed by President Trump.
- King Abdullah of Jordan, strong opposition from Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, Hamas, Egypt's foreign ministry, and the Palestine Liberation Organization, among others, have all shown their support in recent statements for the preservation of stability in the Middle East, following President Trump's announcement about reconsidering the controversial plan for Gaza.
