In a stunning and deeply controversial moment during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former President Donald Trump floated the idea of the United States “taking over” the Gaza Strip.
The remarks, delivered with Trump’s characteristic bravado, have been widely condemned as both illegal under international law and tantamount to advocating ethnic cleansing.
A Dangerous and Illegal Proposal
Trump’s comments, which came during a discussion of the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, were as reckless as they were alarming. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we’ll do a job with it too,” Trump said, describing a vision of leveling the war-torn region and turning it into a hub of economic development. He went on to suggest that Palestinians displaced by the conflict could be permanently resettled elsewhere, a proposal that has been widely denounced as a blatant violation of international law and a form of forced population transfer—an act that meets the definition of ethnic cleansing.
The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits the forced displacement of civilian populations, and Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians could simply be relocated to other countries ignores decades of international consensus on the right of refugees to return to their homes. Human rights organizations and legal experts have already condemned the remarks, with Amnesty International calling the proposal “a dangerous and illegal fantasy that would deepen the suffering of millions.”
Netanyahu, while more measured in his response, appeared to cautiously endorse the idea, calling it “an interesting proposal” and praising Trump as “a true friend of Israel.” However, even his tepid support underscores the dangerous implications of this plan, which would effectively erase Gaza as a Palestinian territory and further entrench Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land.
The Context: A Region in Ruins
Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history. Since the war between Israel and Hamas reignited in October 2023, over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to local health authorities, and Gaza has been reduced to rubble. The conflict has displaced 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, creating a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable proportions.
Rather than addressing the root causes of the conflict—Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza, the occupation of Palestinian territories, and the lack of a viable path to Palestinian statehood—Trump’s proposal seeks to erase Gaza entirely. His suggestion that the U.S. could “own” Gaza and “do a job with it” is not only detached from reality but also a gross oversimplification of a deeply complex and historically fraught situation.
Ethnic Cleansing by Another Name
The most chilling aspect of Trump’s proposal is its clear alignment with the principles of ethnic cleansing. By suggesting that Palestinians could be permanently resettled outside of Gaza, Trump is advocating for the forced removal of an entire population from their homeland. This is not a peace plan—it is a blueprint for erasure.
Palestinian leaders have already condemned the proposal in the strongest terms. “This is a declaration of war on the Palestinian people,” said Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a prominent Palestinian politician and human rights advocate. “Trump’s plan is nothing less than an attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza and erase the Palestinian presence from the map.”
Even within Israel, the proposal has sparked outrage among human rights groups and progressive voices. “This is a dangerous and immoral idea that will only deepen the cycle of violence,” said Hagai El-Ad, the executive director of B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization.
A Threat to U.S. Troops and Global Stability
Trump’s suggestion also marks a dramatic return to the kind of American interventionism that he once claimed to oppose. The idea of the U.S. “taking over” Gaza would require a massive military and financial commitment, effectively turning the region into an American protectorate. Such a move would not only violate international law but also inflame tensions across the Middle East, alienating key allies like Egypt and Jordan and further destabilizing an already volatile region.
Perhaps most concerning is the direct threat this plan poses to U.S. troops. Deploying American forces to Gaza—a region that has been a flashpoint for decades—would put them in immediate danger. Gaza is not only home to militant groups like Hamas but also a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Any U.S. military presence would likely be met with fierce opposition, not just from local factions but also from regional powers like Iran and its proxies, who would see this as an act of imperial aggression.
The U.S. military would be drawn into a quagmire, facing the dual threats of insurgency and terrorism in one of the most densely populated and volatile areas in the world. The human and financial costs of such an operation would be staggering, and the risks to American lives would be immense.
The Ethical and Political Fallout
The ethical implications of Trump’s proposal are staggering. Forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza and resettling them elsewhere would constitute a grave violation of human rights and international law. It would also set a dangerous precedent, signaling to the world that powerful nations can simply erase entire populations in the name of “peace.”
Domestically, the proposal is likely to face fierce opposition from both sides of the political aisle. While some on the far right may applaud Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, others will balk at the idea of another costly and illegal U.S. intervention in the Middle East. On the left, the plan is already being denounced as a moral and legal abomination.
“This is not a peace plan—it’s a war crime in the making,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, who has been a vocal advocate for Palestinian rights. “The United States cannot and must not be complicit in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza.”
What Comes Next?
As of now, Trump’s proposal remains just that—a proposal. But the fact that such an idea was even floated at a press conference with a sitting Israeli prime minister is a stark reminder of how far the discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has shifted.
This is not a plan for peace. It is a plan for domination, displacement, and destruction. It is a plan that ignores the humanity of Palestinians and treats Gaza as a piece of real estate to be bought, sold, and “developed.”
The international community must reject this dangerous and illegal proposal in the strongest terms. Anything less would be a betrayal of the principles of justice, human rights, and international law. And for the United States, this plan is not just a moral failure—it is a direct threat to the lives of American troops and the stability of the entire region.