TEL AVIV, Israel — President Donald Trump’s proposal to acquire U.S. control over the Gaza Strip and facilitate the relocation of its residents has sparked outrage throughout the Arab world. The international community, including U.S. allies and other global powers, reacted with disbelief, and members of Trump’s party were left puzzled as well. In stark contrast, the sentiment in Israel has been markedly different.
The suggestion to displace a substantial number of Palestinians from Gaza, a topic once considered too extreme for serious political discussion, has gained traction among an Israeli populace grappling with the repercussions of Hamas’ attacking on October 7, 2023. This assault, recorded as the deadliest in Israel’s history, has left many searching for answers on how to achieve greater security.
Politicians from various Israeli factions have either embraced the proposal enthusiastically or expressed a willingness to consider it. Columnists in leading newspapers have praised its boldness, while television commentators actively discuss how such a plan could be operationalized. In response to the proposal, Israel’s defense minister has instructed the military to begin drafting a strategy for its potential implementation.
Although the feasibility of this plan remains uncertain and is burdened with numerous ethical, legal, and operational challenges, the mere fact that it has been endorsed by one of the world’s most influential leaders has sparked renewed interest in an idea that was once deemed politically unthinkable in Israel. Israeli historian Tom Segev noted, “The fact that it has been laid on the table opens the door for such a clear crime to become legitimate.”
Nonetheless, many who indicated openness toward this initiative recognized the many legal and logistical barriers that would complicate its execution. Opposition came strongly from various sectors, including liberal Israelis and Palestinian citizens living in Israel. The left-leaning daily Haaretz urged its readers to firmly reject the idea of population transfer, emphasizing that such actions breach international law and amount to war crimes.
During a joint press event with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump elaborated on his vision, suggesting that the U.S. could take control of Gaza, lead its residents to other areas, and revitalize the beleaguered region into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” This idea was met with backlash across the Middle East, particularly from Egypt and Jordan, both U.S. allies with established peace agreements with Israel, whom Trump has proposed to host the displaced individuals.
Netanyahu described Trump’s vision as “remarkable” and arguably the “first good idea” he had encountered. He expressed approval for allowing Gazans who wish to leave to do so, asserting, “I mean, what’s wrong with that?” Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced this sentiment by urging the military to develop a detailed plan for a possible exodus, albeit with scant details disclosed about how this might unfold.
Even political opponents of Netanyahu expressed interest. Benny Gantz, a centrist opposition leader and former defense minister, called Trump’s concept “creative, original, and intriguing.” Opposition leader Yair Lapid agreed that the proposal has merits but noted the complexities and urged focus on the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
For Palestinians, Trump’s announcement resurrected painful memories of past dislocation, particularly the mass exodus that occurred during the 1948 war culminating in Israel’s establishment, and the subsequent displacement resulting from the 1967 conflict during which Israeli occupation began in Gaza and the West Bank. Remaining steadfast in their ancestral lands constitutes a core part of Palestinian identity, with many holding onto hopes of returning to their original homes within Israel, an idea rejected by the Israeli state.
Segev pointed out that the notion of forcibly removing people from their land is not new to Israeli society. He mentioned that founders of Israel believed removing Palestinians was essential to the nation’s security and stability. However, in contemporary Israel, such proposals have typically been associated with extremist fringe groups. The late Rabbi Meir Kahane, known for his radical views, was exiled from the Israeli Knesset and his group banned in the U.S., yet the ideas he propagated have recently gained traction among far-right political factions that are influential in Netanyahu’s administration.
The severity of Hamas’s recent attack has significantly shifted Israeli perspectives away from supporting Palestinian statehood, leading many to adopt Netanyahu’s viewpoint that the conflict cannot be resolved and must instead be managed through periodic military engagements. The violence of October 7 has catalyzed a reconsideration of more radical ideas among Israelis, provided these ideas promise a return to safety.
Prominent figures in Israeli media reflect a changing mindset, with some, including popular radio personalities, expressing a previously held hesitance towards such proposals now reassessing their stance. In the aftermath of the Hamas assault, a consensus has begun to form that removing Gaza as a factor in the conflict is a plausible solution, according to Shmuel Rosner, a senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute. “Before October 7, this was a fringe concept, and now everything has shifted,” Rosner stated, indicating a seismic change in the narrative surrounding this contentious issue.
