'We won't go out of Gaza': Palestinians defiant over Trump plan

For most Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip, the history of forced displacement is deeply ingrained. U.S. President Trump's plan to take over the war-torn region has touched their deepest sensitivities, triggering strong resistance. They believe that any form of resettlement would be a denial of their history and identity.

In a tent camp in the center of Deir al-Balah, residents, in an interview with the BBC, expressed shock and resistance to the idea of being permanently resettled elsewhere. Mahmoud Bajatt, from northern Gaza, said, "Even if it costs our souls, we will not leave Gaza. We oppose Trump's decision. He ended the war, but displacement will end our lives."

Jamalat Wadi, standing between rows of plastic sheeting in the Deir al-Balah camp, said her family had sacrificed too much and they were determined to rebuild their homes. "We endured a year and a half of war. When [Israeli forces] finally withdraw from here, we want to clear the rubble and live on this land." Ms. Wadi continued, "After the United States allowed Israel to destroy our homes in Gaza, he tells us that Gaza is destroyed and we must leave? Even if our children have only one drop of blood left, we will not leave Gaza. We will not give it up!"

Many Palestinians are calling on Jordan and Egypt—which Trump is pressuring to receive displaced Gazans—and Saudi Arabia—which he wants to normalize relations with Israel—to resist U.S. pressure. Since the establishment of Israel, it has refused to allow Palestinian refugees the right to return to their historical homes, as this would make Jews a minority within its borders. Currently, the United Nations registers approximately 5.9 million Palestinians, most of whom live in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

Israel has long argued that those who have been dispossessed should be absorbed by Arab countries, pointing out that hundreds of thousands of Jews left those countries for Israel during the regional turmoil following Israel's founding. Israeli officials say that by proposing to take over war-torn Gaza, after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, and creating a "Middle Eastern Riviera," the Trump administration is offering new ideas for the long-standing conflict.

While Trump has not explicitly supported rebuilding settlements in Gaza, settlement leaders have reacted enthusiastically to the idea of displacement, calling on the Israeli government to take immediate action. The Nachala settlement organization said, "Assuming Trump's statement about transferring Gazans to other countries in the world is realized, we need to act quickly and establish settlements throughout the Gaza Strip." The organization claims to have hundreds of activists ready to move there. Nachala added, "No part of Israel should be left uninhabited by Jews. If we leave any area desolate, it is likely to be occupied by our enemies."

In contrast, the Israeli anti-occupation NGO "Peace Now" dismissed Trump's plan. It supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel as part of an international solution for long-term peace in the region, the two-state solution. "Peace Now" stated, "There is no feasible way to transfer 2 million Gazans abroad." It commented, "It is time to stop fantasizing about ethnic cleansing and forced displacement in Gaza and face reality—there is only one solution that can guarantee security and stability in the Middle East: two states for two peoples, and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Many Israelis and Palestinians are concerned about what the latest statement may mean for current negotiations to extend the ceasefire in Gaza. The next phase of the agreement should see the return of approximately 60 remaining Israeli hostages—not all of whom are still alive—and a more permanent end to the fighting. However, the brother of an Israeli hostage held by Hamas told us, "I don't take what Trump said too seriously. It's not realistic. He's fantasizing." He added that it was "like Canada"—referring to the U.S. leader suggesting that Canada should become the "51st state" of his country.

Some Gazans do admit that they believe one aspect of President Trump's statement is based on reality—his comment that the narrow coastal strip has become "uninhabitable." Last month, a United Nations damage assessment showed that clearing the more than 50 million tons of rubble left in Gaza by Israel's intense bombardment could take 21 years and cost up to $1.2 billion. Bilal Latisi, a customs worker, was shocked after returning to Gaza City after being displaced with his wife and four children in the south for more than a year. "We have returned to a disaster, the worst disaster in history," he said in frustration. "I found that my house and my siblings' houses are gone. Trump doesn't speak without reason. He knows that Gaza is no longer a place fit for human habitation." He said he hoped to sell his car and his wife's gold jewelry to raise funds. "I will leave Gaza as soon as possible. Yes, all Gazans are against displacement, but putting emotions aside, if people have the opportunity, many would choose to leave."