Trump Seeks to Control the Gaza Strip; Arab States Propose a Counter-Plan

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EVYN BROGLEY: On Feb. 5, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intentions to gain control over the Palestinian Gaza Strip. 

The president would go on to further elaborate that he plans to permanently relocate Palestinians from the territory into neighboring Arab states and redevelop the land. Arab leaders have responded by outright rejecting the plan. They are preparing a counter-strategy to Trump’s that would see out the redevelopment of Gaza without the relocation of Palestinians. 

Trump justified his claim for relocation by saying that the Palestinians in Gaza “don’t want to be in the Gaza Strip.” While Trump’s claim is inaccurate, officials at the UN have considered Trump’s desire to move nearly two million Palestinians akin to ethnic cleansing. 

However, officials in Trump’s cabinet have contradicted his statements. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that only a temporary relocation would occur. Trump has also pushed the idea that the surrounding Arab states, not the United States, would be responsible for redeveloping the Gaza Strip, with Trump referring to Gaza as the “Rivera of the Middle East.” 

International reaction to Trump’s statements has been firmly against the proposal. During a meeting with Trump, Jordanian King Abdullah II announced that neighboring Arab nations would meet to create their own plan. However, after this meeting, King Abdullah posted on X that he reiterated “Jordan’s steadfast position against the displacement of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.” Egyptian Officials have also made it clear that they oppose Trump’s plan and have actively begun to formulate a plan to oppose Trump’s. 

Saudi Arabia plans to host a summit between the delegations of Egypt, Jordan, Qatar and the UAE, with an additional Arab League convening on Feb. 27 to discuss reconstruction and new governance in Gaza. Trump has made it clear that he does not want a Palestinian-led government in Gaza after reconstruction, opposing the interests of Arab states like Saudi Arabia that will not compromise on Palestinian sovereignty. 

Egypt proposed the beginning of a plan to establish “secure areas” in Palestinian territory that Palestinians could temporarily move to while the surrounding Arab states complete the reconstruction. During the proposed five-year reconstruction project, which would clear ruins and rebuild vital infrastructure, three safe zones would be established within the Gaza Strip, consisting of mobile shelters and humanitarian aid. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his approval of Trump’s plan, saying that he is “committed to US President Trump’s plan for the creation of a different Gaza.” Additionally, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Kaz announced the creation of an agency that would oversee the “voluntary departure” of Palestinian people from Gaza. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Israel must “quickly move forward with the plan.” Despite any plans to maintain a Palestinian state, Israel seems keen on swiftly seeing out Trump’s plan.

From the perspective of an American, Trump’s brash seems to be part of his “manifest destiny” strategy to expand the territory of the United States, as we can see with his rhetoric of attempting to buy Greenland, reclaim the Panama Canal, rename the Gulf of Mexico and call Canada the 51st state of the United States, all while saying he would not rule out military force. 

Within a month, Trump has irreversibly damaged the international image of the United States and has shown aggression to our alliances and trade partners while lending to the interests of Elon Musk, Vladamir Putin, and Benjamin Netanyahu. 

He talks about the redevelopment of Gaza into a resort as if it is not the cultural and historical homeland of millions of effectively colonized people. There does not appear to be any shred of empathy for the lives and dignity of the Palestinian people. The desperate expansionism of the United States that the world is seeing right now does not convey strength but the weakening of American virtue to be a beacon for the free world. 

Evyn is a freshman in the SFS from outside of Philadelphia planning to major in international politics with a minor in German. He joined On The Record in his second semester as a staff writer.