Palestinians condemn Trump’s proposal to ‘evacuate’ Gaza. Israel-Palestine conflict news
Palestinians have strongly condemned United States President Donald Trump’s proposal to displace them from the Gaza Strip to Egypt and Jordan – a suggestion that has raised concerns of ethnic cleansing.
Trump told reporters on Saturday that now is the time to “evacuate” the besieged Gaza Strip, urging the leaders of Jordan and Egypt to take Palestinians out of Gaza either temporarily or permanently.
The proposal was roundly rejected by the Palestinians on Sunday, with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) saying the proposal would violate its “red lines”, while Gaza residents insisted they would remain in the coastal zone.
“It is impossible for people to accept this,” Palestinian civilian Nafiz Halawa told Al Jazeera from Nussirat in central Gaza. “Weak people may leave because of the suffering they have endured, but the idea of leaving our country… it is simply impossible.”
Elham al-Shabli also rejected this idea. “If we wanted to go, we would have done so a long time ago. The Palestinians will gain nothing from the genocidal war they are waging and we will persist no matter what,” he said.
The PA said in a statement that the plan was a “gross breach of the red lines we have repeatedly warned against”.
It added, “We insist that the Palestinian people will never give up their land or their holy sites and we will not allow a repetition of the disasters (Nakba) of 1948 and 1967. Our people will stand firm and defend their homeland. Will not leave.” ,
It urged Trump to maintain the Gaza ceasefire agreement, ensure the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, establish the PA as the governing body in the enclave, and pursue efforts toward the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that rules Gaza, said the US administration should abandon proposals that are in line with Israeli “plans” and conflict with the rights of the Palestinian people, who have already been subjected to “the most heinous acts of genocide”. And are protesting against displacement. Israel began its war on Gaza in October 2023.
Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), which has been fighting alongside Hamas in Gaza for more than 15 months, described Trump’s comments as inciting “war crimes”.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said the country’s “rejection of displacement is definite and irreversible” and that Amman would look forward to working with the Trump administration in advancing efforts toward the recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state.
Trump’s comments also affected senior Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who said during an interview with US outlet CNN that he does not consider the idea “highly practical” and believes Arab countries in the region would reject it.
Israel halts withdrawal in northern Gaza
Trump’s comments come a week after a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza took effect, completing two rounds of prisoner-for-prisoner swaps.
But thousands of Palestinians waited on the streets to return to their homes in northern Gaza on Sunday as Israel refused to open crossing points after accusing Hamas of violating a ceasefire agreement.
Israel said it would open the crossing point following the release of Arbel Yehud, an Israeli civilian prisoner held by PIJ in Gaza. It said that under the ceasefire agreement, civilian prisoners were to be released before the troops.
PIJ told Al Jazeera on Sunday that Yehud would be released before Saturday in exchange for 30 Palestinian prisoners.
PIJ Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed al-Hindi also said his group was “waiting for a practical response” from mediators on how Palestinians would be allowed to return to their homes in northern Gaza.
Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, reporting from a crossing point on Gaza’s al-Rashid Street, said there were “no tents” to provide shelter to displaced people.
“There is no place for them here; There is no tent there. “Most people are staying here because they have dismantled their tents, because they thought that after the release of the four Israeli captives, they will be able to enter the northern part of the Strip as agreed,” he said.
“But it looks like he’ll have to sleep here again tonight.”
