What are implications of Trump's Gaza plan, mechanisms to confront it?
5 Min Read
Arab analysts and academics discuss the implications of US President Donald Trump's plan to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and strategies to counter it.
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An illustration shows the flags of Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia (Al Mayadeen)
As US President Donald Trump's administration continues to pressure Arab states to adopt a plan for the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to countries such as Egypt and Jordan, the Arab response has been firm and unified in its outright rejection of the scheme due to its implications on the security of these nations and the region as a whole, as well as its denial of Palestinian rights.
The Arab consensus has emphasized the necessity of Palestinians remaining on their land and achieving their legitimate aspirations, foremost among them the right to establish an independent state.
Trump’s contentious proposal outlined a plan to force Palestinians out of Gaza to neighboring Egypt and Jordan while placing the enclave under "long-term" US ownership.
He sparked outrage by touting Gaza’s real estate potential, suggesting its redevelopment into a "Middle Eastern Riviera."
Trump has even said in an interview for Fox News Channel's Bret Baier that Palestinians would have no right to return to Gaza under his US "takeover" plan, which he unveiled in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week.
In this context, Al Mayadeen Network launched an open coverage to express solidarity with Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and to reject Trump's displacement plan, given its political, military, and strategic risks and repercussions.
Dr. Mohammad Abu Rumman, a professor of Political Sciences at the University of Jordan, told Al Mayadeen that "what Israel failed to achieve militarily, it is now trying to accomplish diplomatically and politically through a plan to displace Palestinians and eliminate Hamas and the Resistance’s weapons in Gaza."
He stressed that this plan strengthens "Israel’s" regional dominance and advances its long-term objectives through political maneuvers.
On her part, Amani al-Tawil, director of the African Program at the al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, stated that Trump is solely focused on ensuring that "Israel" leads the region and becomes its primary actor and prioritizing economic and investment interests while disregarding the humanitarian aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian struggle.
Al-Tawil warned that Trump's displacement plan could trigger chaos in regional and international relations, with profound political, military, and strategic repercussions, posing significant threats to regional and global security.
Meanwhile, Abu Rumman emphasized that "we are witnessing major transformations," noting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "now feels a strategic superiority in the region, to the point of brazenly discussing the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia."
Displacement of Palestinians violates sovereignty of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia
Similarly, political writer and senior official in the Kuwaiti Progressive Movement, Ahmad al-Deyain, underscored the importance of a unified Arab stance against the displacement plan.
He highlighted the need for coordination among Arab states and the reinforcement of political and economic support for the Palestinian people to counter these schemes, underscoring that "the Arab position must remain cohesive in rejecting the displacement of Palestinians."
Al-Deyain further stressed that Trump and Netanyahu’s remarks on displacement constitute an infringement on the sovereignty of Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia and undermine the Palestinian cause and the broader Arab order.
He described these statements as an attempt to pressure Arab states into making concessions that would compromise Palestinian rights, ultimately affecting regional stability.
In the same context, Ashraf Abu al-Houl, managing editor of the al-Ahram newspaper, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in safeguarding Palestinian rights, describing the kingdom’s opposition to Trump's displacement plan as "a historic stance".
He added that Saudi Arabia’s significant religious status reinforces its steadfast rejection of the displacement plan and its commitment to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Abu al-Houl stressed that Saudi Arabia places the issue of occupied al-Quds and its holy sites at the forefront of its priorities, insisting that the city remain under Arab and Muslim control, free from Israeli interference or domination.
Ramifications of Trump's plan extend beyond neighboring countries
Political writer and expert Dirar al-Bustanji emphasized that the unified Arab rejection of the displacement plan serves as a fundamental pillar in defending Palestinian rights and preventing any attempts to annihilate the Palestinian cause.
He stated that this stance reflects the solidarity and unity of Arab nations in confronting plans aimed at altering the Palestinian cause’s core dynamics and undermining Palestinians' rights to their land.
Al-Bustanji further pointed out that the ramifications of this plan extend beyond neighboring countries and pose a broader threat to the entire Arab region, adding that Riyadh recognizes that the dangers associated with the plan go far beyond the immediate vicinity of Palestine.
Read more: 'Only to al-Quds': Hamas responds to displacement plots amid handover
