Palestinians Resist Trump’s Relocation Proposal

Author: Luthfie Febrianto
April 14, 2025

Ilustrasi - Warga Palestina berjuang untuk kehidupan sehari-hari mereka di tengah pelaksanaan gencatan senjata. (ANTARA/Anadolu)

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Residents of the Gaza Strip have rejected a proposal by US President Donald Trump suggesting the relocation of Palestinians to other countries, as Israeli military operations in the territory continue to intensify.

During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on April 7, Trump described Gaza as “an incredible piece of real estate” and proposed moving its population to nations such as Egypt, Turkey, or European countries. The remarks have sparked widespread anger among Palestinians, who view the proposal as an attempt to erase their presence from their ancestral land.

“This is not a new idea. It’s an old policy disguised in a new language,” said Hussam Dalloul Qudeih, 41, a displaced resident now living in a shelter in the southern Gaza town of Khuza’a, as quoted on Antara. “They want to expel us in the name of peace. But peace is not exile.”

Since the resumption of Israeli military operations on March 18, at least 1,522 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,800 injured, according to health authorities in Gaza. Airstrikes have flatten entire neighborhoods, displacing thousands of residents.

Despite worsening conditions, many Palestinians say they are determined to remain. Political analyst Hussam al-Dajani said Trump’s comments reflect a mindset that views Gaza solely as real estate, ignoring its human and cultural dimensions. He also criticized the notion of “voluntary relocation,” calling it misleading under current conditions.

“Under siege, displacement, and loss, what is truly voluntary?” he asked as quoted on Antara.

Aida al-Salmi, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of five now sheltering in Al-Mawasi, also rejected the idea. “Our children were born here. This is our home,” she said as quoted on Antara. “We want to live in peace, but on our land.”

Writer: Andi Raisa Malaha Thambas