Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya
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The Trump administration reportedly proposed relocating one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya, offering Libya access to frozen funds in return.
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Palestinians struggle to get a meal at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
The administration of US President Donald Trump is reportedly advancing a controversial proposal to forcibly relocate up to one million Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip to Libya, according to a report published Friday by NBC News.
Citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter, including two individuals briefed on the plan and a former US official, the report revealed that Washington has already opened discussions with Libya's leadership regarding the potential transfer.
As part of the deal, the Trump administration is said to have offered the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets in exchange for Tripoli’s agreement to receive Palestinian refugees.
While no final agreement has been reached, the report indicates that the proposal marks a dramatic escalation in US-backed efforts to depopulate Gaza under the guise of humanitarian relocation, amid the Israeli occupation's ongoing aggression on the territory.
Gaza as a 'freedom zone'
Just on Thursday, during his visit to Qatar, US President Donald Trump unveiled a controversial plan to transform Gaza into a US-controlled “freedom zone.” This proposal comes amid escalating Israeli violence and a stalled peace process in the region.
Trump outlined his vision for Gaza as a territory rebuilt under US oversight, aiming to provide alleged safety and economic opportunities for Palestinians. He claimed that US involvement could stabilize the region and create a new chapter of peace.
However, the plan calls for significant changes in governance and control, raising questions about Palestinian sovereignty.
Implications for Middle East peace efforts
Experts are divided on whether the US-led Gaza plot could revive stalled peace negotiations or exacerbate regional instability. The proposal marks a significant shift in US policy, reflecting Trump's transactional approach to Middle East diplomacy, while the international community remains cautious as events unfold.
Previously, the US leader repeatedly suggested that his country should "take over" Gaza, resettle its population elsewhere, and redevelop the area into what he has called "the Riviera of the Middle East."
Trump outlined his vision for Gaza, suggesting that "Israel" hand over control of the besieged territory to the United States after the war. He described Gaza as a "demolition site" and proposed that its Palestinian residents be transferred to other countries, including Jordan and Egypt. He did not rule out the deployment of American troops and vowed to visit Gaza himself.
His proposal, however, was widely denounced as a grave violation of international law. Navi Pillay, chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, condemned the plan, calling it a blatant act of ethnic cleansing.
