Why Trump's Gaza Plan Makes Sense

The US President's latest statements about the relocation of Gaza residents have shocked Israel and the Middle East.

Indeed, the words "I want to relocate 1.8 million people", voiced by the most influential person in the world, cannot leave indifferent opponents and supporters of this idea.

It should be recognized that the very thought of the US president, which, as the world media writes, he discussed only in a narrow circle of his advisers, is bold and interesting.

The truth is that now living conditions in the Gaza Strip are terrible, and it is wrong to force people to stay there. They should be provided with the opportunity to leave. Almost two million people are not obliged to live among the ruins.

The full reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of any normal civilian administration there will be extremely difficult, since it is necessary to ensure the basic needs of so many people.

Equally important is the fact that before October 7, many people in Gaza wanted to emigrate. In 2023, even before Black Saturday, the Palestinian Center for Political and Public Research conducted a sociological survey, according to which almost a third of the population of Gaza wanted to leave the Strip.

The desire to leave is especially pronounced among young people aged 18–29 (44%). These are only those who honestly answered the questions of sociologists, not afraid to tell the truth in the public realities of this place.

It is not known for certain how many people left Gaza during the years of Hamas rule, but we are talking about hundreds of thousands. Moreover, people were looking for an opportunity to leave, despite considerable difficulties. Now, probably, those who want to emigrate even more.

Of course, if the resettlement of the residents of the sector really takes place, it must be organized at the proper level — both financially and logistically. Moreover, social, housing and other conditions must be provided in countries that agree to accept these people. With the support of the United States and its allies, this is quite possible.

On the other hand, it is necessary to minimize the risks associated with the possible spread of Islamist ideology in the countries hosting the migrants. In this context, the creation of large communities of immigrants from the sector in Egypt or Jordan, as initially proposed, looks problematic. The same applies to other countries in the Middle East.

Resettlement of Gazans to the countries of the region is also unprofitable for Israel. We have nothing to gain from the guaranteed destabilization on the other side of the Jordan or from the deterioration of the already difficult situation in the Sinai. Especially considering that these are the longest borders of Israel.

One possible scenario would be to provide Gaza residents with a corridor through Egypt to remote Muslim countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or Pakistan. If the US can find a worthy motivation for these states to accept the residents of Gaza, they will at least consider this option.

Those European states that took an uncompromising position on the Palestinian issue — Ireland, Norway, Spain — could also take part in the program of resettlement and adaptation of Gaza residents. If they are concerned about the fate of the Palestinian people, they could show responsibility and accept a certain number of people from the sector.

It is not necessary to imagine the situation in the spirit of Stalin's deportations or "population exchanges" after World War II — as if all 1.8 million people, according to Trump's plan, would be divided into two or three large groups and forcibly evicted to the nearest desert.

If we offer decent financial and household incentives to Gaza residents, invest in logistics and prepare the conditions in the countries that are ready to accept them at the proper level, we can create several successful precedents for the resettlement of small groups.

These precedents will show the rest of the residents of the sector that it is real to build a new, high-quality life for themselves and their families.

It must be remembered that many Gazans already dreamed of leaving the Strip under the rule of terrorists. It's not a matter of days, weeks or months. It will take time, and it's not cheap. But this is at least some way to solve the problem of the Gaza Strip.

In this context, the idea of Donald Trump is not meaningless at all.

Leonid Nevzlin, Detaly

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