Nearly two months ago, former U.S. President Donald Trump floated a controversial proposal to forcibly relocate over two million Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip to neighbouring countries. Citing Israel’s widespread destruction of Gaza and framing the area as “uninhabitable,” Trump promoted the idea of transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” The proposal sparked shockwaves across the region and raised urgent questions about its viability, legality, and intent.
Though international uproar over the plan has somewhat subsided, the proposal’s echoes persist, especially as Israel resumed its military offensive on Gaza on March 18 — this time with even greater ferocity and explicit backing from the United States. The stated aim: pressuring Hamas into making concessions regarding the release of captured Israeli soldiers.
For several weeks, Trump reiterated his determination to pursue the “resettlement” of Gaza’s population, suggesting long-term American control over the territory. As recently as this Tuesday, he described Gaza as “prime real estate” and claimed it would be “beneficial” for a “peacekeeping force” such as the U.S. to own and control the enclave.
Yet earlier, in February and March, Trump appeared to walk back parts of the proposal. He clarified that he would not forcibly expel residents from Gaza and claimed the U.S. would merely recommend resettlement — a notable shift from his previous assertion that the U.S. would take control of Gaza and relocate its population to Egypt and Jordan.
This partial retreat may have come after facing unified Arab rejection of the plan, most notably at the Cairo Summit on March 4, where Arab leaders firmly rejected any resettlement scheme. Instead, they endorsed Egypt’s $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza, reflecting international condemnation of the Trump proposal — widely criticised as a blatant violation of international law.
Regional Resistance and Growing Isolation
Both Egypt and Jordan, the primary targets of the resettlement proposal, rejected the plan unequivocally and repeatedly. The proposal also drew strong objections from multiple EU member states, the UN, and other global powers.
While no formal retraction has been issued by Trump’s camp, several media outlets report that the former president has quietly shelved the “Gaza Riviera” plan. His softened stance in March may have been influenced by voices within his own administration acknowledging the impracticality and political toxicity of the plan.
Meanwhile, Israeli leaders eagerly embraced the idea, seeing in it a golden opportunity to rid themselves of what they often refer to as the “Gaza headache.” Backed by the current U.S. administration’s unwavering support, Israel has escalated its military operations in what analysts suggest may be an attempt to force the plan’s implementation through sheer destruction.
A Shocking Proposal Rooted in Real Estate Logic
In early February, Trump stunned not only the region but even members of his own team during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, proposing the relocation of Gaza’s residents to Egypt and Jordan — cloaked in the rhetoric of humanitarian concern.
The proposal echoed an earlier idea by Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who characterised the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a “real estate dispute.” True to his background in property development, Trump repeatedly described Gaza as a “fantastic real estate opportunity” — once the U.S. was in control.
According to the New York Times, Trump’s proposal shocked even senior White House officials. He reportedly pressured Egypt and Jordan to accept hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, using the threat of cutting off vital U.S. aid — amounting to billions of dollars — to strong-arm their compliance. However, Cairo and Amman held firm, resisting despite economic pressure.
Why the Plan Is Failing
Experts widely agree that the Trump resettlement plan is either already dead or on the verge of collapse. Chief among the reasons is the unified Arab opposition, made explicit at the Cairo Summit and by Egypt and Jordan’s national security concerns. These nations rightly view any forced resettlement as a step toward dismantling the Palestinian cause itself.
Another major obstacle is the steadfast refusal of the Palestinian people to abandon their land, even amid widespread destruction. In makeshift tents and shattered homes, Gazans continue to resist displacement, despite the relentless violence inflicted upon them by Israeli forces.
Political analyst Iyad al-Qara told Al Jazeera Net that Trump’s proposal lacks any operational framework and is more fantasy than policy. He compared the current U.S. ambiguity on Gaza to the earlier Biden administration’s idea of building a floating pier to deliver aid — another failed initiative detached from reality.
Al-Qara emphasised that there is broad Arab and Palestinian rejection of the proposal. He described Egypt’s stance as particularly firm, pointing to Cairo’s declared refusal to reopen the Rafah crossing under any Israeli oversight — a red line in preserving Palestinian sovereignty.
He also noted that the Arab reconstruction plan may have somewhat diluted Washington’s momentum, showing that regional self-determination is still alive, and that any imposed solutions will face resistance.
Delusions of a ‘Middle East Riviera’
Al-Qara dismissed the notion of a U.S.-controlled resort city on the ashes of Gaza as unrealistic and offensive, suggesting that Trump’s vision is rooted more in commercial thinking than humanitarian or geopolitical understanding — possibly driven by Israeli disinformation or Trump’s own worldview.
Even if some individuals eventually leave Gaza — for work, study, or medical reasons — this will likely remain a trickle, not a tide, and does not reflect a desire to abandon the land. Meanwhile, Israel appears to be exploiting the war to gradually implement depopulation tactics, especially in areas like Rafah.
A Battle Still Unfolding
Palestinian analyst Mustafa Ibrahim argues that while the Trump plan may not have been entirely defeated, it faces significant resistance. He told Al Jazeera Net that Israeli efforts to pursue the plan remain ongoing, but are met with firm Palestinian resilience.
Ibrahim stressed that to prevent the plan’s advancement, the Palestinian leadership must present a united front, and Arab nations must maintain — and even intensify — pressure on the United States.
Despite the current rejection, he warned of concerns that some Arab states may eventually soften their stance, highlighting the need for vigilance and unwavering public pressure.
Meanwhile, Hassan Khreisheh, Deputy Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, stated in an earlier interview that Palestinians sent a clear message after the latest ceasefire violation by Israel: “We are staying on our land.” He expressed confidence that Palestinians will defeat the Trump plan, especially with continued Arab support.
Today, Egypt reaffirmed its rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians, whether temporary or permanent, as the UN announced that over 400,000 Palestinians have been internally displaced in Gaza since Israel resumed its assault on March 18.
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