On Wednesday, March 12, U.S. President Donald Trump assured that no Palestinians would be forcibly expelled from the Gaza Strip. His remarks came after Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to create a new “Emigration Authority” office under the Defense Ministry to manage the forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Smotrich claimed the plan had the backing of the Trump administration.
Trump’s comments followed his controversial proposal in February to take control of Gaza, despite opposition from some European countries. The U.S. president stated that he is committed to “owning” Gaza amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group.
In response to a reporter’s question during a meeting with Irish leader Micheál Martin in the Oval Office, Trump firmly stated, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians.”
Arab leaders have rejected Trump’s plan and proposed their own, which has been dismissed by the U.S. administration.