Palestinians condemn Trump’s proposal to ‘clean out’ Gaza

Palestinians have roundly condemned United States President Donald Trump’s proposal for them to be displaced from the Gaza Strip and sent to Egypt and Jordan – a suggestion that has raised concerns of ethnic cleansing.

Trump on Saturday told reporters that it was time to “clean out” the besieged Gaza Strip, urging the leaders of Jordan and Egypt to take in Palestinians from Gaza, either temporarily or permanently.

The proposal was roundly rejected by Palestinians on Sunday, with the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority (PA) saying the proposal would violate its “red lines”, while Gaza residents insisted they would remain in the coastal enclave.

“It’s impossible for people to accept this,” Palestinian citizen Nafiz Halawa told media from Nuseirat in central Gaza. “The weak might leave because of the suffering they have endured, but the idea of us leaving our country … it’s absolutely impossible.”

Elham al-Shabli also rejected the idea. “If we wanted to leave, we would have done that a long time ago. The genocidal war they are waging will achieve nothing against the Palestinians and we will remain despite what happens,” she said.

The PA said in a statement that the plan “constitutes a blatant violation of the red lines we have consistently warned against”.

“We emphasise that the Palestinian people will never abandon their land or their holy sites, and we will not allow the repetition of the catastrophes (Nakba) of 1948 and 1967. Our people will remain steadfast and will not leave their homeland,” it said.

It urged Trump to sustain the Gaza ceasefire agreement, ensure full withdrawal of Israeli forces, establish the PA as the governing body in the enclave, and advance efforts towards the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, said the US administration must abandon such proposals that align with Israeli “schemes” and conflict with the rights of the Palestinian people, who have already been resisting “the most heinous acts of genocide” and displacement since Israel launched its war on Gaza in October 2023.