Hamas welcomes Trump’s reversal on Gaza mass displacement plan
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Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem has welcomed what appears to be a shift in United States President Donald Trump’s stance on the permanent displacement of more than two million Palestinians from Gaza.
The statement from Hamas came after Trump, in response to a question during a White House meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Wednesday, stated, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza.”
“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.
He further urged that this position be reinforced by ensuring that Israel complies with all terms of the ceasefire agreements.
Trump had previously sparked outrage across the Middle East and beyond when he proposed a US takeover of Gaza and suggested that the territory’s Palestinian population be permanently displaced to neighboring countries. His apparent reversal follows a meeting in Qatar on Wednesday between Arab foreign ministers and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, where discussions focused on Gaza’s reconstruction.
According to a statement from Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting included foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
“The Arab foreign ministers discussed the Gaza reconstruction plan, which was approved at the Arab League Summit held in Cairo on March 4, 2025,” the ministry stated.
“They also agreed with the US envoy to continue consultations and coordination on this plan as a basis for the reconstruction efforts in the sector,” it added.
On Saturday, the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted the Gaza reconstruction plan proposed by the Arab League at an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia. The initiative, led by Egypt, seeks to rebuild Gaza under the administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA) and was developed in response to Trump’s earlier threat to take over the territory and displace its residents.
Meanwhile, a new round of ceasefire talks for Gaza began in Qatar on Tuesday, with Witkoff dispatched to Doha for mediation efforts.
“The Arab ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, stressing the need for genuine efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, ensuring the fulfilment of the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and independence,” the Qatari Foreign Ministry stated.
On Sunday, Taher al-Nono, a political adviser to the Hamas leadership, confirmed that unprecedented direct talks had taken place between Hamas and Washington in Doha. These discussions reportedly focused on the release of an American-Israeli dual national held by Hamas, as well as the phased implementation of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel.
This direct engagement marks a significant shift in US policy, which has historically refrained from negotiating with groups it designates as “terrorist organizations.”
A Hamas delegation also held talks with Egyptian mediators in recent days, reaffirming its readiness to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel. Meanwhile, Israel sent negotiators to Doha on Monday as part of ongoing ceasefire discussions.
The initial 42-day phase of the Gaza ceasefire expired earlier this month without an agreement from Israel on subsequent stages intended to secure a lasting end to the war.
Since then, Israel has imposed a total blockade on Gaza, now in its 12th day, restricting the entry of food, fuel, and medicine. The blockade has been described as collective punishment, with critics accusing Israel of using humanitarian aid as leverage to pressure Hamas.