‘Insane’: Rights advocates denounce Trump’s call for US to ‘own’ Gaza

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently made remarks calling for the U.S. to "take over" and "own" the Gaza Strip, and to rebuild it after "completely driving out" Palestinian residents. This proposal has sparked outrage from human rights advocates and politicians, who have condemned and strongly opposed the scheme. These groups suggest that such a plan would be unethical and violate international law.

While Trump has previously called for the forced relocation of Gaza residents, he took the proposal to a new level at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, claiming that the U.S. would acquire the Palestinian territory. Critics argue that Trump is not only advocating for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, but also proposing to acquire land by force, which violates the United Nations Charter. This is a serious escalation of his previous statements.

In 1994, United Nations experts defined ethnic cleansing as "a purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas." Trump stated that Gaza has become a "demolition site" and that population transfer must take place after 15 months of U.S.-backed Israeli bombing. The damage to the region would require massive reconstruction efforts.

At the joint media briefing with Netanyahu, Trump said, "The United States will take over Gaza, and we'll do that job, and we'll own it." Netanyahu smiled upon hearing Trump's remarks. In recent months, Trump has also suggested that the U.S. should take over the Panama Canal, Greenland, and Canada. But his comments on Gaza are particularly jarring at a time when the people of the Gaza Strip are suffering greatly, and have been condemned by many human rights activists. These comments highlight Trump's controversial views on international affairs.

Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said that Trump's proposal is "horrifying." Ayoub said the U.S. president's remarks are "insane" but should not be taken lightly, emphasizing that this is exactly what Israel has been planning all along, namely the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. "This would violate all norms and international law. This cannot be allowed to happen," Ayoub told Al Jazeera. "But at this point, you have to ask yourself, if you look at the last year and a half: how much does the international community, including Israel, care about international law and norms?" He warned that the expulsion of Palestinians would trigger a major backlash in Arab countries and plunge the entire region into further turmoil. Such actions could destabilize the region for years to come.

Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at DAWN, a U.S. human rights organization, slammed Trump's remarks about relocating Gaza residents and the U.S. taking over the area. Jarrar told Al Jazeera: "President Trump's delusional remarks about owning Gaza highlight the need for the international community to hold Israeli and U.S. leaders accountable. Doubling down on being Israel's partner in genocide and ethnic cleansing is not only a threat to Palestinians, but also a threat to world peace and the international order." This partnership has drawn criticism from various international bodies.

Tariq Habash, who resigned from the Biden administration over its unconditional support for Israel, said Trump's plan is an "endorsement of ethnic cleansing" and a "blatant violation of international law." Habash, who recently co-founded the think tank "New Policies," told Al Jazeera: "The United States has no right to 'own' Gaza or decide the future of the Palestinian people. This is not diplomacy, nor is it in the interests of the United States." Nancy Okail, president of the International Policy Center, said Trump's proposal echoes ideas from "the darkest chapters in history." Okail said in a statement: "President Trump's remarks proposing to permanently displace the population of the Gaza Strip and have the United States 'take over' the territory is nothing short of an open call to commit crimes against humanity. It is unforgivable for a U.S. president to advocate for the forced transfer of populations and the acquisition of territory in the 21st century." The international community must condemn such proposals.

Michigan Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib called on colleagues who claim to support a two-state solution to stand up against Trump. Tlaib wrote in a social media post: "Palestinians are not going anywhere. The only reason this president feels empowered to spew this kind of hateful nonsense is because of the bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing." The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) dismissed Trump's remarks, saying that if the U.S. president really wants to achieve peace in the region, he must work to end the oppression of Palestinians. CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement: "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not to the United States, and President Trump's call to expel Palestinians from their land, whether temporarily or permanently, is absolutely unacceptable. If the Palestinian people are somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity will complete Israel's genocide against Palestinians on their land, trigger widespread conflict, sound the death knell for international law, and permanently damage our country's international image." This would have devastating consequences for the region.

The Arab American Institute said that Trump hosted a "war criminal" at the White House and engaged in a "casual discussion" about genocide and ethnic cleansing. The organization said in a series of social media posts: "This statement will provide ammunition for Iran and other adversaries, while undermining our Arab partners in the region. It flies in the face of decades of bipartisan U.S. support for a two-state solution – the only viable path to peace, stability and security for both Israelis and Palestinians. Palestinians cannot be erased." The institute's statement highlights the potential for increased tensions in the region.