Trump’s chilling plan to ‘clean out’ Gaza

President Donald Trump’s suggestion to ‘clean out’ Gaza and relocate its native population to neighbouring countries is nothing short of an ethnic-cleansing dog whistle. No wonder it has alarmed human rights advocates, international law experts and Middle Eastern leaders.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, his comments about “cleaning out” the “demolition site” that is Gaza and displacing millions of Palestinians exemplifies the reckless and dehumanising rhetoric that has characterised his approach to the Israel–Palestine conflict. His statements demonstrate a blatant disregard for international law and the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of such a plan.

Trump’s proposal to “temporarily or long-term” relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan comes amidst one of the most destructive conflicts in Gaza’s history.

Over 15 months of relentless Israeli bombardment has indeed left Gaza a ‘demolition site’, with the death toll close to 50,000 Palestinians — most of them civilians, women and children. Nearly two million residents of the enclave have been displaced, struggling to survive in the ruins of their homes.

“It’s a real mess,” Trump said, while advocating mass displacement as a solution, apparently oblivious that such rhetoric dismisses the fundamental rights of Palestinians to live on their ancestral land. His suggestion that Arab nations absorb displaced Palestinians is not only impractical but also an insult to the historical and ongoing struggle for Palestinian self-determination.

The notion of relocating Gaza’s population to neighbouring countries is not new. It aligns disturbingly with far-right Israeli narratives that have long sought to rid Gaza and the West Bank of Palestinians. Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich openly praised Trump’s idea, calling it a “great opportunity” for Palestinians to “start new lives elsewhere”. These statements give away the agenda: the erasure of Palestinian identity and claims to their homeland.

International law unequivocally prohibits the forced displacement of populations. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention states: ‘The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies.’ By advocating mass displacement, Trump’s proposal treads perilously close to endorsing war crimes. Leaders in the Middle East have swiftly and unequivocally rejected Trump’s proposal.

Jordan’s foreign minister Ayman Safadi reaffirmed his country’s “fixed and unchangeable” position against displacement, while Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi warned that such actions would destabilise the region and undermine existing peace agreements. Both nations, already hosting millions of Palestinian refugees, view Trump’s plan as a threat to their national security and a violation of Palestinian rights. For Palestinians, the proposal evokes haunting memories of the Naqba or ‘Catastrophe’ of 1948, when over 700,000 Palestinians were forcibly displaced during the creation of Israel.

The pain of that displacement is still raw, as generations of refugees continue to live in camps, clinging to the keys of homes they were forced to abandon. “Our people will not leave their homeland,” declared Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, calling Trump’s remarks an affront to the dignity and resilience of Palestinians. Hamas and other resistance groups echoed this sentiment, vowing to oppose any attempt at forced relocation.

The situation in Gaza is already dire. The United Nations estimates that 60 per cent of structures in the enclave have been destroyed and their reconstruction might take decades. Meanwhile, the lifting of a US hold on 2,000- pound bombs for Israel—announced by Trump on the same day as his relocation comments—signals a continuation of the devastating military campaign.

The suggestion that Palestinians will find “peace” in other countries wilfully disregards their deep connection to this land and the unique challenges they face as a displaced and stateless people.

Sadly, though, Gaza’s population has nowhere to turn, even though their displacement is no kind of solution, besides being a violation of the fundamental principles that underpin global norms and treaties. Trump’s comments once again underscore the urgent need for a renewed commitment to international law—a mechanism that today reminds us of its existence only in its breach. The international community must unequivocally reject any attempts to forcibly relocate Palestinians. Efforts should focus on achieving a just and lasting peace that recognises their right to self-determination. The blockade of Gaza must end and there must be accountability for crimes committed in this genocidal war.

India, as a nation that has historically supported the Palestinian cause and upheld the principles of non-alignment, must take a firm position against Trump’s plan. To remain silent is to be complicit, which can only undermine credibility as a global advocate for justice and human rights. By opposing this proposal, India can reaffirm its dedication to a rules-based international order and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their fight for dignity and sovereignty.

Trump’s proposal is not a plan for peace, it’s a blueprint for ethnic cleansing. By advocating the displacement of Palestinians, he is not only fuelling tensions in the region but undermining international law and setting a dangerous precedent for the treatment of vulnerable populations worldwide. History has shown that forced displacement leaves scars that last generations.

The Palestinian people, steadfast in their resilience, will not accept a future built on the erasure of their identity and homeland. The world must stand with them, not only to reject Trump’s dangerous rhetoric but to demand justice, dignity and self-determination for Palestinians. “Cleaning out” Gaza is not the path to peace; it lies in addressing the underlying injustices that have perpetuated this conflict for decades.

Anything less is a betrayal of the principles of humanity and justice.

Ashok Swain is a professor of peace and conflict research at Uppsala University, Sweden. More of his works can be read here