Trump’s ‘ethnic cleansing’ Gaza proposal catches huge flak
As Palestinians return to northern Gaza after a 15-month war, US President Donald Trump’s suggestion to “clean out” the war-ravaged strip and relocate its inhabitants to Egypt and Jordan has ignited a firestorm of criticism from activists as well as across the Middle East, even from America’s firmest Arab allies.
While Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — the region’s two economic heavyweights, also seen as being closest to Trump — have officially remained silent, they have telegraphed their displeasure.
Media outlets in both countries known to be close to the state have been replete with articles and op-eds condemning the president’s comments.
Abu Dhabi normalized ties with Israel during Trump’s first term, and Riyadh has expressed readiness to do so under certain conditions. Yet for both, his proposal is tantamount to a direct national security threat.
Besides destabilizing Egypt and Jordan, US talk of driving out Palestinians from their homeland after the war is seen as vindication by those that have long lambasted the UAE and Saudi Arabia for selling out the Palestinian cause.
On Saturday, Trump called to “just clean out” Gaza and resettle Palestinians in Egypt and Jordan, describing the enclave as a “demolition site” after Israel’s genocidal war.
There was immediate condemnation from the Palestinians, who, along with Jordan and Egypt, rejected the idea over fears that Israel would never allow the Palestinians to return to Gaza if they were forced to leave.
Despite widespread opposition to the proposal from Palestinian leadership, the UN and US allies in the region, Trump on Monday repeated his suggestion.
He reiterated he would “like to get [Palestinians from Gaza] living in an area where they can live without disruption and so much revolution and violence.”
The remarks, apparently at odds with existing US policy and international law, have been widely rejected by the Arab world as a potentially fatal blow to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but were embraced by Israel’s right wing.
US Senator Bernie Sanders denounced Trump’s proposal, calling it “ethnic cleansing” and a war crime, urging all Americans to condemn it.
Meantime, even Trump loyalists tried to make sense of his words.
“I really don’t know,’’ said Sen. Lindsey Graham, when asked on CNN’s “State of the Union” about what Trump meant by the ”clean out” remark. Graham, who is close to Trump, said the suggestion was not feasible.
He said Trump should keep talking to Mideast leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and officials in the United Arab Emirates.
“I don’t know what he’s talking about. But go talk to MBS, go talk to UAE, go talk to Egypt,” Graham said. “What is their plan for the Palestinians? Do they want them all to leave?”
The Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation issued statements vehemently rejecting any call for the displacement or relocation of Palestinians from their land.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has also rejected the Trump’s plan. Posting a message on X on Tuesday, he wrote, “The idea of cleaning out Gaza as part of the plan for the colonial annihilation of Palestinian people has long been underway using American lethal weapons and ammunition, as well as its political, intelligence and financial support”.
Resistance groups of Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis were quick to lash out at Trump for his proposal.