ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE. President Donald Trump proposed a dramatic shift in the handling of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, suggesting that Arab nations, including Jordan and Egypt, take in significantly more Palestinian refugees from the war-torn Gaza Strip. Trump floated the idea of moving a substantial portion of Gaza’s population to “just clean out” the area, creating what he referred to as a “clean slate.”
During a 20-minute press briefing aboard Air Force One on Saturday, Trump announced he had lifted a ban on the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, which had been paused under the previous administration to minimize civilian casualties. “We released them today,” Trump said. “They’ve been waiting for them for a long time.” When asked why the ban was lifted, Trump stated, “Because they bought them.”
A Controversial Proposal for Gaza
Trump revealed he had spoken with Jordan’s King Abdullah II earlier in the day and planned to consult Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi about the possibility of relocating up to 1.5 million Palestinians. “I’d like Egypt to take people,” Trump said. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing and say, ‘You know, it’s over.’”
The president praised Jordan for its efforts in hosting Palestinian refugees and urged the kingdom to accept more, stating, “I’d love for you to take on more, ’cause I’m looking at the whole Gaza Strip right now, and it’s a mess. It’s a real mess.”
However, such a large-scale displacement would directly contradict Palestinian historical ties and cultural identity tied to Gaza. Trump described the region as a “demolition site” and suggested working with Arab nations to build housing for refugees in new locations. “It could be temporary or long-term,” he added.
Impact on U.S. Policy Toward Israel and Gaza
Trump’s decision to resume bomb shipments marks a departure from former President Joe Biden’s policy. Biden had halted the delivery of certain munitions in May, citing concerns over civilian casualties during Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden explained at the time.
The lifted ban underscores Trump’s staunchly pro-Israel stance, which he described as central to his foreign policy vision. His administration has celebrated the first phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which has included hostage exchanges and a pause in active fighting.
Future of the Ceasefire Agreement
Despite the ceasefire’s initial success, negotiations remain delicate. Talks are expected to focus on the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and achieving a lasting halt to hostilities. The Israeli government has made it clear that if progress stalls, it will not hesitate to resume its military campaign.
Since Hamas’s large-scale attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the conflict has caused widespread devastation. Israeli authorities report over 1,200 deaths from the assault, while Gaza health officials estimate more than 47,000 Palestinians have been killed in retaliatory airstrikes.
As Trump’s remarks and policy decisions continue to draw attention, their potential implications for Gaza’s future remain a source of intense debate.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
- Venus L Peñaflorhttps://tutubi.ph/author/venusp/
