DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Saeed Abu Elaish recounts the immense loss he has endured, having seen his wife, two daughters, and many family members perish in Israeli airstrikes over the past 15 months. His home, located in northern Gaza, has been reduced to rubble, and he now resides in a tent with the surviving members of his family. Despite the devastation, he firmly asserts that they will not be uprooted from their land. This sentiment comes in response to remarks made by President Trump suggesting that all Palestinians in Gaza be relocated to allow the U.S. to take control of the area and rebuild it. Such comments have sparked outrage among rights advocates, who regard them as incitements for what could be termed “ethnic cleansing.”
“Any plans to expel us from our homeland will be met with our absolute rejection and resistance,” stated Abu Elaish, speaking from the Jabaliya refugee camp. The reaction among Palestinians to Trump’s proposal has been one of disbelief and alarm. Many rushed to return to their homes, even if they were in ruins, following a recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While some experts suggest Trump’s comments could be tactical in nature, Palestinians interpret them as a continuation of a historical pattern of displacement, harkening back to the 1948 war that led to the mass expulsion of many Palestinians from their territories, a tragedy known to them as the “Nakba,” or “Catastrophe.”
Abu Elaish’s personal family history echoes this painful narrative. His grandparents were expelled from their village of Hoj in what is now southern Israel during that conflict. The family relocated to Jabaliya, a camp that ultimately evolved into a densely populated urban area. However, ongoing hostilities have resulted in heavy destruction in that region due to Israeli military actions.
Mustafa al-Gazzar is another voice of resistance, recalling his own childhood experience from 1948 when his family was forced to flee their town of Yabneh amid Israeli attacks. Now in his 80s and witnessing yet another wave of destruction in Rafah as a result of airstrikes, he declared his intent to remain. “I would prefer to live in my tent amid the ruins than to be expelled from my land,” he asserted, emphasizing his desire to return to his birthplace. He also highlighted the importance of seeking a two-state solution where Israelis and Palestinians could coexist peacefully.
During a recent statement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt, Jordan, and other areas, assuring them of a “beautiful place” to live. However, both Egypt and Jordan have rebuffed his ideas. Trump’s vision for Gaza included a redevelopment effort that would transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” while dismissing any need for Palestinian consent to vacate their homes.
Amna Omar, a 71-year-old resident of Deir al-Balah, criticized Trump’s remarks, labeling him a “madman.” After being forced to go to Egypt for medical treatment during the conflict, she lost her husband to cancer and now expresses an unwavering desire to return to Gaza. “Gaza is my land, my home. We have every right to it and intend to rebuild it,” she declared with conviction.
In the aftermath of 15 months of conflict, many displaced Palestinians have shown remarkable resilience and a powerful determination to return to their devastated neighborhoods. Crowds have begun streaming back to areas such as northern Gaza and Rafah, both of which have suffered extensive damage from military actions. Despite the dire conditions, including the lack of water and electricity, their desire to remain undeterred has made them resolute.
“We will stay here, even if it means living in the wreckage of our homes—this is better than living in disgrace elsewhere,” shared Ibrahim Abu Rizk, who returned to find his home in shambles. He expressed his frustration at the suffering endured over the months, declaring, “How can we leave after everything we have been through?”
According to a ceasefire agreement facilitated by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, the return of Palestinians to their homes is part of a broader reconstruction plan, provided a governance arrangement is reached between Israel and Hamas. International law prohibits the forced displacement of populations, and the Israeli rights organization B’tselem has labeled Trump’s comments as a directive for ethnic cleansing, warning that it could lead to a second Nakba for Palestinians in Gaza.
For years, Palestinian refugees have advocated for their right to return to the homes they were displaced from during the founding of Israel, a right recognized under international law. Israel has countered this view, asserting that such a mass return could compromise the Jewish majority in the state. Throughout the ongoing conflict in Gaza, there has been a prevailing suspicion among Palestinians that Israel aims to force their migration to Egypt. While the Israeli government has denied this intention, extreme factions within its political structure have called for actions to encourage Palestinian emigration and the revitalization of Jewish settlements in Gaza. The prevailing rejection of Trump’s ideas has also resonated among Palestinians in the West Bank and in neighboring Arab nations with significant refugee populations.
“If he aims to displace Gaza’s population,” remarked Mohammed al-Amiri, a resident of Ramallah, “then he must also return them to their ancestral homes within Israel, from which they were expelled in 1948.”
