Israeli Minister backs Trump’s Gaza displacement plan

An Israeli Minister stated that US President Donald Trump’s controversial Gaza plan to displace Gazans, will move forward despite significant international criticism.

Speaking to the Israeli parliament, Bezalel Smotrich emphasised that the plan had the potential to bring about a “historic change in the Middle East and for the state of Israel.”

His comments underscored his support for the proposal, which seeks to reshape Gaza’s role in the region, as reported by The Arab Weekly.

Trump’s plan, which was introduced shortly after his second inauguration, has drawn widespread global condemnation. The plan proposes taking control of Gaza and transforming it into a strategic hub within the Middle East.

Palestinians, according to the proposal, would be relocated to neighbouring regions, a move that has sparked outrage worldwide.

Critics argue that the plan would cause immense hardship for Gaza’s residents and violate international law.

Sara Elizabeth Dill, Co-Vice Chair of the International Bar Association’s War Crimes Committee, called the proposal “an absolute farce” and stressed that it is “utterly contrary to international law.”

Despite these concerns, Smotrich defended the plan, acknowledging that its implementation would be a lengthy process.

“If we remove 5,000 people a day, it will take a year,” Smotrich said. “Of course, this is assuming we have countries willing to take them, but these are very, very long processes.”

His comments highlight the scale of the task at hand and the complexities involved in relocating a large population.

Smotrich’s optimism regarding the plan hinges on the hope that countries will be willing to accept displaced Gazans.

This comes in the wake of an alternative proposal put forward by Arab nations, which was presented to President Trump last week.

The Arab proposal, which has garnered support from several Islamic countries and European governments, calls for rebuilding Gaza without displacing its civilians. It rejects Trump’s plan, which has been deemed problematic by many.

The Arab counter proposal aims to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza without further exploiting the suffering of the people.

It seeks to rebuild the region and avoid the devastating consequences of the recent conflict, which, as reported by The Arab Weekly, saw 15 months of war before a fragile ceasefire was reached on January 19.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also expressed support through social media.

He stated that he looked forward to working with “our Arab brothers, President Trump, and the international community” to find a “comprehensive and just settlement of the Palestinian issue.”

El-Sisi emphasized that this proposal could bring security and stability to the region and help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

In contrast, Smotrich and his far-right Israeli counterparts continue to back Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, viewing it as an opportunity to bring an end to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Smotrich expressed his confidence in the current US administration, asserting that in the 76 years since Israel’s creation, the country has never been closer to a solution than it is now.

The tension between the US backed plan and the Arab alternative reflects the deep divisions within the international community over how best to address the ongoing crisis in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

As the debate continues, the fate of Gaza and its residents remains uncertain.

The Arab Weekly