Trump’s Gaza Occupation Declaration and the Arab World’s Token Anger

Former US President Donald Trump made Gaza and Ukraine the central issues of his election campaign. Despite Kamala Harris leading in most surveys, Trump’s strong stance on these matters played a key role in her defeat. The US was Israel’s biggest partner in the Gaza massacre—an undeniable fact. Interestingly, the strongest protests against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza came not from Arab nations but from European countries.

Among European nations, the largest demonstrations against Israel’s actions took place in the US and the UK. In both these countries, student organizations led the protests, demanding an independent Palestine. For the first time, European nations showed greater opposition to Netanyahu and the Biden administration than Arab countries did.

Trump’s Gaza Strategy and the US Elections

Trump made Gaza and Ukraine the focal points of his election campaign. Before the election, he claimed that if he returned to power, he would enforce a ceasefire in Gaza. Analysts believe this was a decisive factor in his victory and Harris’s defeat. American Muslims and student organizations were furious over Biden-Harris’s support for Israeli massacres in Gaza, leading many to vote for Trump. However, after winning the election, Trump has reportedly started working with Netanyahu on a plan to displace Gaza’s residents. Arab nations, on the other hand, are merely making symbolic protests.

Trump Declares US Will Occupy Gaza

US President Donald Trump has officially declared the occupation of Gaza, a region devastated by Israeli attacks. During a press conference at the White House alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated, “The US will take control of Gaza, and we will own it.” His statement, widely seen as anti-Muslim, has sparked only a token outrage in the Islamic world.

Gaza Displacement and the Plan to Expel Palestinians

Trump also proposed the permanent displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. He outlined a reconstruction plan in which the US would assume ownership of the region and oversee its rebuilding.

According to the Associated Press, during the White House press conference, Trump said, “I don’t think people should return. We need another place where they can be happy.” He further stated that the US would take over Gaza and, after relocating Palestinians, transform it into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” where both Palestinians and foreigners could live. However, Trump did not clarify under what authority the US would claim ownership of this war-torn region.

Saudi Arabia’s Token Response

In response to Trump’s remarks, Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry stated that the kingdom remains committed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The statement read, “It is the duty of the international community to work towards alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people. They will remain on their land and will not leave.”

During the press conference, Trump also remarked that Palestinians had “no choice but to leave the rubble of Gaza.” He hinted at deploying US troops during the reconstruction and suggested that the region would “remain under long-term American control.”

Arab nations have outright rejected the plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza. The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, and the UAE sent a joint letter to their US counterpart, expressing their opposition. The letter emphasized, “The plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza is entirely unacceptable.” It further stated, “Gaza’s reconstruction must involve the direct participation of its people. They will remain on their land and contribute to the rebuilding efforts.”

Trump suggested that Jordan and Egypt should take in displaced Palestinians while the US assumes control of Gaza. During the joint press conference, Trump and Netanyahu also stated that tougher sanctions would be imposed on Iran to prevent it from ever becoming a nuclear power.