Trump: Under my plan Gazans would relocate permanently, not be able to return
US president, contradicting assurances by Netanyahu, says it would be a ‘big mistake’ to allow Palestinians to return to the Strip after proposed American takeover
The Times of Israel
Feb 10, 2025
US President Donald Trump, in an interview aired Monday, confirmed that under his proposed American takeover of the Gaza Strip and resettlement of its 2.2 million residents, displaced Gazans would not have the right to return to the enclave upon its reconstruction.
“We’ll build beautiful communities, safe communities — could be five, six, could be two — we’ll build safe communities, a little bit away from where they are, from where all of this danger is,” Trump said.
“And in the meantime, I would own this,” he told Fox News’ Bret Baier, in a clip from an interview whose first half aired prior to the Super Bowl, and whose second half will air in full Monday evening.
“Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land—”
“Would the Palestinians have the right to return?” Baier asked.
“No, they wouldn’t,” Trump responded.
“Because they will have much better housing. I’m talking about building a permanent place for them,” the US president said.
Trump then reasserted his confidence that he could “make a deal” with Egypt and Jordan, noting, “We give them billions and billions of dollars a year.”
The remarks echoed Trump’s comments to press on Air Force One on Sunday, when he said, “I think it’s a big mistake to allow people — the Palestinians, or the people living in Gaza — to go back yet another time.
“We’ll be building through other[s] of the very rich countries in the Middle East. They’ll be building some beautiful sites for the Palestinians to live in. They’ll be living in harmony and peace, probably for the first time in hundreds of years,” he insisted aboard the plane.
Asked on Sunday about reports that he will be meeting soon with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, Trump said, “I’ll be meeting with all of them numerous times,” but did not provide any further information.
Saudi Arabia has flatly rejected Trump’s Gaza plan, as have many world leaders.
Jordan's King Abdullah II and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have flatly rejected Trump’s Gaza plan
Jordan’s King Abdullah plans to tell Trump during their February 11 meeting in Washington that the proposal is a recipe for radicalism that will spread chaos through the Middle East and jeopardize the kingdom’s peace with Israel, Reuters reported last week.
Meanwhile, Egypt will host an emergency Arab summit on February 27 to discuss what it described as “serious” developments for Palestinians.
Statements contradict earlier assurances
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that Gazans should be “temporarily relocated” for the rebuilding process.
Trump’s recent comments appeared to contradict assurances by both his own administration and Israeli officials that the proposed resettlement of Gazans would only be a temporary measure while the enclave is rebuilt.
In the wake of Trump’s press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly walked back the idea of forced permanent resettlement, saying instead that Gazans should be “temporarily relocated” for the rebuilding process.
Similarly, Netanyahu asserted during interviews over the weekend that under Trump’s plan, Gazans would eventually be able to return home after being screened.
“Give them an option to relocate temporarily while we rebuild the place physically and while we also rebuild it in terms of radicalization. You want to come back? You have to disavow terrorism, but you can come back,” the prime minister said.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid also said Monday that he does not believe the proposal involved forcing anybody to leave against their will but rather allowing those who wish to relocate to do so freely.
“I’m against transfer and expulsion by force,” the Yesh Atid leader said.
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