GUATEMALA CITY – High-ranking officials in the Trump administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, clarified remarks made by President Trump regarding the potential relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Trump’s previous comments indicated a desire for the “permanent” resettlement of Gazans, a notion that faced backlash from international allies and members of his own party.
On Tuesday, Trump proposed resettling approximately 1.8 million Palestinians from the conflict-ridden Gaza Strip, suggesting the possibility of U.S. troops being deployed to support a major reconstruction effort. However, both Rubio and Leavitt stated that the intention was for a temporary relocation to facilitate rebuilding efforts.
The idea of relocating Palestinians has raised concerns among the Palestinian community, who fear that if they leave, they may not have the opportunity to return. Trump’s call for Arab nations to assist in accommodating these individuals has also been met with skepticism.
During his inaugural foreign trip as Secretary of State, Rubio characterized Trump’s suggestion as a “very generous” offer aimed at aiding the rebuilding of Gaza, which has suffered significantly due to 15 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas. “Clearly, while rebuilding occurs, it’s necessary for people to have a place to stay,” Rubio commented in a press conference held in Guatemala City.
In Washington, Leavitt described Gaza as “a demolition site” and referenced footage highlighting the devastation present there. She emphasized the need for temporary relocation due to the current uninhabitable conditions in Gaza, labeling it “evil” to suggest continued habitation in such dire settings.
Their statements seemed to contrast with Trump’s initial remarks where he expressed a vision of creating “a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently,” to ensure their safety away from the violence that has plagued Gaza. He spoke of the potential for long-term U.S. involvement in redeveloping the region, which lies along the Mediterranean coast.
U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Egypt and Jordan, voiced concerns that relocating Palestinians could destabilize the region further and disrupt ongoing efforts for a two-state solution, which has been a long-standing goal of U.S. diplomacy. A statement from the Saudi Arabian foreign ministry reaffirmed their commitment to an independent Palestinian state, criticizing Trump’s position and calling on the international community to focus on alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian population.
Even Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican supporter of Trump, found the idea “problematic,” saying that the plan for U.S. involvement on the ground in Gaza was unacceptable to the Senate. Graham suggested that efforts should return to targeting Hamas while looking for a solution involving Arab nations to assume control over Gaza and the West Bank in a manner favorable to establishing a Palestinian state.
Rubio reiterated that Trump’s proposal was not intended to be hostile, framing it as an offer for the U.S. to assist in debris clearance, munitions removal, and overall rebuilding efforts to pave the way for returning residents.
Despite the clarification efforts, the White House specified that there would be no U.S. financial aid directed toward Gaza’s reconstruction at this stage. However, following Trump’s lead, Leavitt did not dismiss the possibility of American troops being sent to Gaza, suggesting that maintaining such leverage could be crucial in negotiations.
The perspectives from Palestinians and Arab nations emphasize a reluctance to consider even a temporary relocation, as it contradicts decades of American policy advocating for a Palestinian state without displacing individuals from Gaza or the West Bank. This newer proposal appears to undermine ongoing talks by the Biden administration aimed at establishing a post-conflict plan for governance and rebuilding in Gaza. President Biden had sought to solidify a strategy that included joint governance by the Palestinian Authority under the supervision of the United Nations, along with a multinational peacekeeping force, prior to leaving office.
