Trump’s ‘clean out’ Gaza plan condemned as aiding ethnic cleansing in Israel’s favour

Embodying the warnings from civil rights advocates that Israel’s actions may lead to ethnic cleansing or genocide, US President Donald Trump’s proposal to 'clean out' Gaza by displacing large numbers of Palestinians and relocating them to neighbouring countries is seen as a literal move to remove Gazans from their homeland in support of Israeli interests.

Trump’s suggestion to send Palestinians to Egypt or Jordan, either temporarily or permanently, has been denounced as dangerous, impractical, and potentially a violation of international law.

Trump emphasized that these relocations could be long-term or temporary, but both Jordan and Egypt have firmly rejected the notion, with the Jordanian foreign minister reaffirming the country’s unwavering position against the displacement of Palestinians, while Egyptian officials warned that any such move would threaten their diplomatic relations with Israel.

In Gaza, where the population has been devastated by over 15 months of conflict, the idea of forced relocation has been met with overwhelming opposition. Palestinians across the region, including those in the coastal enclave, have expressed their resolve to stay in their homeland, insisting that they would not abandon Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah, strongly condemned the proposal, stressing that it would violate their “red lines” and was incompatible with their aspirations for sovereignty.

Human rights organizations have also voiced concerns, arguing that forced displacement of Palestinians could amount to ethnic cleansing, a war crime under international law. Gaza, with a pre-war population of 2.3 million, is already home to a large number of refugees, many of whom fled the region during earlier conflicts, notably during the 1948 Nakba, when over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled their homes.

Hamas, the governing Palestinian faction in Gaza, also rejected the plan, accusing the US of supporting Israeli efforts to implement displacement schemes that would disregard Palestinian rights.

Hamas leaders pointed out that the Palestinians’ struggle against Israel’s military actions, which they describe as genocidal, has only reinforced their determination to remain in Gaza despite the hardship. The group's officials stated that it was impossible to force the Palestinian people out of their homeland, as they are deeply rooted in the land.

Trump’s proposal has also raised alarms in the international community, with legal experts warning that such a plan would breach both international humanitarian law and the principle of self-determination. Omer Shatz, an international law lecturer, described Trump’s comments as incitement to ethnic cleansing, drawing parallels to extreme rhetoric from some Israeli political figures who have long advocated for the removal of Palestinians from the region.

The potential consequences of Trump’s plan are seen as deeply destabilizing, not only for Gaza but also for the broader Middle East. Regional powers have made it clear that they would not accept Palestinian refugees being pushed into their territories.

The Egyptian government has made it abundantly clear that forcing Palestinians into Sinai would not only jeopardize its relations with Israel but could also threaten the peace treaty signed between the two nations in 1979. Similarly, Jordan, which already hosts millions of Palestinian refugees, has remained resolute in its refusal to accept any further influx of displaced people.

At the same time, there are fears that Trump’s proposal could further entrench the cycle of violence and displacement. Calls for the immediate return of Gaza residents who had fled their homes under the terms of a temporary ceasefire have been rejected by Israel, which accuses Hamas of violating the ceasefire. This has added to the sense of hopelessness among Palestinians, who feel their prospects of ever returning to their homes are being blocked by Israeli actions.

International bodies such as the United Nations and human rights organizations have also condemned the proposal, urging the US to abandon any plans that would contribute to the displacement of Palestinians. These groups insist that the situation requires a long-term solution based on dialogue and respect for Palestinian rights, including the right to self-determination.

Trump’s stance has received mixed reactions in Israel, with far-right political figures expressing support for the plan, while others caution against pushing for forced displacement. Some experts believe that any such plan would not only be illegal but also impractical, as neighbouring countries are unwilling to accept refugees from Gaza, and it would further complicate the already tense regional situation.

The suggestion of sending Palestinians to countries like Indonesia was also floated, though Indonesia quickly distanced itself from any such proposal. Meanwhile, international law scholars argue that a permanent relocation of people against their will would violate fundamental principles of human rights, particularly the right to stay in one's homeland.

The lack of clarity surrounding Trump’s vision for postwar governance in Gaza, coupled with his previous comments about the territory as a “real estate prospect,” has only added to the controversy surrounding the proposal.