Hamas official welcomes Trump’s retraction of Gaza plan

Hazem Qassem, spokesperson for Hamas, welcomes President Trump’s apparent retraction of his controversial proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza, as reported by Asharq Al-Awsat.

During a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin on March 12th, Trump retracted his previous remarks, stating, “nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza.”

Last month, Trump had controversially proposed the creation of a Middle Eastern hub, which would have seen Gazans displaced to neighbouring regions such as Egypt and Jordan.

His retraction marks a significant change in political direction as Egypt’s plan to rebuild Gaza has emerged as a central focus in ongoing discussions between US officials and Arab foreign ministers in Jeddah at present.

In a statement, Qassem urged the US President to refrain from aligning with the “extreme Zionist right.”

“If US President Trump’s statements represent a retreat from any idea of displacing the people of the Gaza Strip, they are welcomed,” Qassem said, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

Qassem further emphasised that Hamas expected this shift to be accompanied by concrete measures, urging the Israeli occupation ‘to implement all the terms of the ceasefire agreements’, as quoted by Reuters.

The retreat from Trump’s proposal carries considerable weight, particularly given the widespread international condemnation of the idea, which further contributed to the already volatile situation in Gaza.

With a peace agreement urgently needed, the region remains in a precarious state and as Hamas welcomes Trump’s retraction, hopes for a solution to the Palestinian issue have been strengthened.

As discussions continue, the international community is closely watching the US’s role in the Middle East, particularly in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and working towards a sustainable solution for all parties involved.