With an arrogance of excess and an alarming ignorance of history and geography—beyond even the wildest expectations of insanity—former U.S. President Donald Trump decided to erase the Palestinian cause from the pages of history and the future. His plan involves the direct American takeover of Gaza’s geography, the mass expulsion of millions of Palestinians under the guise of “rebuilding Gaza” into the so-called “Riviera of the Middle East,” and the long-term transformation of the territory into American-controlled land. The scheme includes the introduction of non-Palestinian residents and even the potential establishment of Israeli settlements, all financed through Arab and international funds—excluding American contributions—to execute this grand theft of Gaza. According to his delusions, this process would take 15 years—nearly four times the duration of his own potential stay in the White House.
It is needless to reiterate the obvious: Trump has proven himself to be the greatest ally of the Israeli occupation in the White House, as openly admitted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. If not for the constraints of diplomatic rhetoric, Netanyahu would likely have declared Trump the greatest servant of Zionism in history.
Trump himself takes pride in his contributions to the occupation. During his first term and beyond, he has boasted about his achievements in serving the Zionist agenda. He has repeatedly emphasized, before and after his last meeting with Netanyahu, that he was the one who endorsed the recognition of all of Jerusalem as the so-called “eternal unified capital” of the Israeli occupation. He also supported the annexation of the occupied Golan Heights, coerced numerous Arab states into joining the Abraham Accords during his first term, reopened unlimited American arms stockpiles for Israel, and ceased funding for UNRWA, the UN agency assisting Palestinian refugees. Furthermore, he withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council, deeming it “anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist,” and cut U.S. funding to UNESCO, the UN’s education, science, and culture organization. His administration also reinstated the policy of “maximum economic pressure” on Iran, targeting financial support for resistance movements.
All of this, however, was merely an appetizer before the main course—his plan to “solve” the Palestinian issue by eliminating Palestinians entirely. His vision extends beyond Gaza; he has hinted at an impending decision on the occupied West Bank, which he is expected to advocate for complete annexation by the occupation, potentially accompanied by the mass expulsion of millions of Palestinians. This aligns with the long-standing Zionist dreams of erasing the Palestinian presence altogether.
Trump’s Radical Vision for Gaza and Beyond
Trump’s sweeping promises have thrilled the most extreme Zionists, bringing their vision of “Greater Israel” within reach. His plan aims for the final elimination of all Palestinian existence from historic Palestine—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea—and possibly beyond, extending into Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and even Egypt. Trump has blatantly disregarded the rejection of this forced displacement by Egypt and Jordan, repeatedly pressuring both countries to allocate land for expelled Palestinians. He has explicitly stated that his plan does not allow for the creation of any Palestinian state, at any time, in any location.
Trump’s Secretary of State, the Zionist Marco Rubio, has reinforced this message, affirming that Washington is actively preparing to seize Gaza and implement mass expulsion. If Netanyahu leads an extremist religious right-wing government in Tel Aviv, then Trump has built an even more radical pro-Zionist administration in Washington. His team is more extreme than Netanyahu’s own cabinet, with figures such as Mike Huckabee, Trump’s ambassador to Israel, openly denying the existence of Palestinians and referring to the occupied West Bank as “Judea and Samaria,” in line with hardline Zionist doctrine.
Trump fully supports the ongoing Israeli genocide in the West Bank and is gearing up to officially approve the annexation of most or all of the territory. His deranged plan for Gaza is expected to begin after—or instead of—the next phase of the ceasefire agreement. His envoy to the ceasefire negotiations, Steve Witkoff, was clear in his statements, declaring that the second phase of the deal would focus on securing the release of all Israeli and American captives, while the third phase—still under “adjustment”—would involve the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza before any reconstruction efforts could begin.
Trump has pressured Arab negotiators into submission, repeatedly stating that there are no guarantees for maintaining the ceasefire. He has made it clear that all subsequent steps hinge on the acceptance of his expulsion plan and the American seizure of Gaza. His ultimate goal is to ensure that no role remains for Hamas—or for any Palestinian entity—because, under his vision, no Palestinians will remain in Gaza at all.
The Palestinian and Arab Response: A Test of Will
The Palestinian and Arab response so far has not been proportionate to this unprecedented and existential threat. While the usual condemnations and comparisons to the Balfour Declaration are valid—indeed, Trump’s promise is far worse than Balfour’s—it is no longer enough. The Balfour Declaration granted Zionists a so-called “national homeland” in Palestine, but Trump’s plan hands them all of Palestine permanently, stripping Palestinians of even the right to exist on their own land.
Trump’s vision for the American takeover of Gaza may not necessarily involve direct U.S. military occupation. Instead, he is likely to rely on the Israeli military—effectively an extension of the U.S. military—to carry out the task. American bases in the occupied Negev desert and across the region provide direct military support. His plan may include deploying U.S. Marines along Gaza’s coastline, securing American corporate monopolies over the region’s gas and oil resources, and establishing direct American protection over the Israeli occupation forces in Gaza. Sixty American military bases spread across the Gulf and the Levant could be mobilized for this agenda.
While Trump’s new plan may seem surreal, defeating it at its inception is entirely possible. Not only does it violate all principles of international law, but it also disregards global institutions entirely. Trump’s reckless disregard for legal frameworks means he would not hesitate to withdraw the U.S. from the UN or even expel the UN headquarters from New York. He believes in “peace through imposed force” and assumes that countries rejecting his expulsion plan will ultimately succumb to his pressure.
The Path Forward
This unprecedented challenge demands a fundamentally different response:
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- Mobilizing international action to criminalize the forced displacement of Palestinians and secure UN resolutions against Trump’s genocidal plan.
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- Immediate suspension of all Arab relations with Israel, leaving no option off the table and drafting an alternative reconstruction plan for Gaza.
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- Establishing a unified Palestinian political front without delay, governing Gaza, the West Bank, and occupied Jerusalem as one entity. The time for internal divisions between Fatah, Hamas, and others is over. The Palestinian resistance must be fully embraced as the legitimate right of a people fighting for survival.
The only viable path forward is Palestinian resilience and steadfastness on their land. The world must reject Trump’s vision for erasing Palestine. This is a defining moment in history, and in this struggle for justice, there is no room for hesitation. The fate of an entire people hangs in the balance.
