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Trump and his plan to rebuild Gaza. Image of Gaza.
Israel Answers / Susan's Blog

Trump, Gaza, and Why His Plan Might Be the Best Option 

By ICEJ USA President Dr. Susan Michael

Amid the recent joyful return of several live hostages to Israel followed by the heartbreaking return of deceased ones—including an innocent mom and her two babies, abducted when they were just nine months and three years old—discussions have continued as to what to do with Gaza after the war ends. Two plans are percolating—one plan spearheaded by US President Donald Trump and the other by Egypt’s government.  

During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent visit to the White House, Trump presented his plan of what to do—sending shock waves around the world. Trump had seen the images of a group of three emaciated male hostages upon their return to Israel and that perhaps emboldened him to announce in a press conference that followed that the United States would take over and rebuild Gaza.    

The Arab world was outraged, while American allies were stunned but showed openness to the idea. Israel, traumatized by the horrors of October 7, 2023, and the horrific treatment of recently released hostages (and undoubtedly those still in Gaza), has generally embraced the idea. Removing the Palestinian threat and gaining a sense of security Israelis haven’t had for decades is appealing. Even Israel’s defense minister promptly ordered his military to begin preparations for their departure.    

The Plan Trump Proposed for a Restored Gaza  

In Trump’s proposal, Palestinians could choose to temporarily resettle in safer, more attractive communities outside Gaza rather than returning to flattened buildings and rubble so they can restart their lives. Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations would accept Palestinian refugees. After the war ended, Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States, which would resettle the refugees and then initiate cleanup and rebuilding efforts. Notably, Trump’s plan would not require the deployment of US troops to Gaza.  

Not surprisingly, Palestinians are against the plan, fearing a bait-and-switch—that Israel would never allow their return. Hamas has condemned it, claiming a US takeover would amount to an occupation. Human Rights Watch has called Trump’s plan a “forcible transfer,” prohibited in the Geneva Conventions of 1949. The International Criminal Court and Amnesty International say expelling Palestinians by force would be a war crime (Nazi leaders were charged with this in the Nuremberg trials after World War II)—even a crime against humanity. However, according to Trump, Palestinians will want to leave, seeing it as a chance for a new start.  

The Egyptian Counter Campaign  

Egypt rejected the plan Trump set forth to empty Gaza of its population and initiated a covert campaign to counter Trump’s. The Egyptian government claims Trump’s plan violates international law—that it could undercut ceasefire talks, shatter the existing “foundations of peace,” and threaten the nearly 50-year-old peace talks with Israel. Ultimately, Egypt contends that resettling Palestinians will destabilize the region and threaten its national security.  

Egypt prefers to keep the Palestinians in Gaza, begin reconstruction efforts, and move toward the creation of a Palestinian state that includes the West Bank and east Jerusalem. Their plan would establish secure areas in Gaza for Palestinians to live while cleanup and infrastructure rehabilitation happens. Egypt has been engaged in talks with European diplomats, as well as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, about their plan and how to fund it. They must convince Trump their plan is a viable alternative, a task that would require addressing the role the Palestinian Authority (PA) should have in a rebuilt Gaza (if any). It would also require unity among Arab nations, which has historically been weak.  

The People Problem  

Both plans must figure out what to do with the more than 2 million Palestinians who have no home to return to. In Trump’s mind, Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations would accept Palestinian refugees. However, these countries don’t want them—they know even Gazan civilians are complicit in what happened on October 7, 2023, and that many are radicalized and dangerous. Palestinian refugees could very well bring the radical jihadist movement into their countries.   

However, leaving them in Gaza, as Egypt is scheming, lays the foundation for future problems there. Hamas will only regroup and train up a new generation of fighters. And moving refugees to designated places within Gaza is impractical, assuming many years of cleanup and construction are ahead that will inhibit regular life.  

Conclusion  

Egypt’s plan involves the same old end goal of an independent Palestinian state. But Israel has repeatedly offered this to the Palestinians, exchanging land for peace—even aiding them so they could succeed. Gaza was actually a test of the “two-state solution,” and look at what it produced: a jihadist terrorist organization seeking to take over all of Israel and murdering every Jew in their way.  

The barbarism of the October 7, 2023, attack revealed the true evil undergirding Hamas. It is clear Israel has no choice but to eliminate Hamas altogether if it wants lasting peace. Allowing Palestinians to emigrate on their own is the most humane option, but other countries must be willing to take them in and reeducate and deradicalize them. This is the only way to bring peace to Gaza.  

For this reason, the plan proposed by Trump is the only viable one on the table—and is why Netanyahu looked a bit lighter when Trump presented it to the world.