In our previous editorial, we predicted that Trump was really dead serious in trying to get for Israel what its military forces failed to achieve in its genocidal campaign in Gaza. We warned that the rest of the world must take seriously his suggestion of evacuating the people of Gaza to Jordan and Egypt. We also mentioned that these countries may be forced to accept Trump’s absurd ideas because of their total dependency on the US.
True to our predictions, US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday 4th of February. He reiterated the idea of displacing Palestinians from Gaza, saying the people there had no alternative but to leave the Palestinian enclave in order to survive and stop dying, He repeated his statement that the Palestinian territory was a “demolition site” and expressed his desire for a deal to permanently resettle people from the Gaza Strip.
What is interesting is that he added a few more ideas to the concept. Trump suggested the possibility of sending US troops to the Gaza Strip. He said that the United States will take over the Gaza Strip. “We’ll do what’s necessary, if it’s necessary, we’ll do that,” he said. “We’re going to… take over that place and we’re going to develop it… create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something the entire Middle East will be proud of.” Trump also continued his remarks that Palestinians should not return to the Gaza Strip, but instead be permanently resettled in Egypt or Jordan. When asked by a reporter “who would take over from the US once Gaza was “redeveloped?” Trump evaded answering the question. During the press conference, he also called Gaza the “Riveria of the Middle East”. His son-in-law, Jared Kushner, called the strip “very valuable” as “waterfront property”. So Trump’s plans, instead of emanating out of pure humanitarian concern for the desperate plight of the Palestinians are actually a greedy opportunistic real estate land grabbing plot to generate profits out of dispossessing its inhabitants under seige. This is pure capitalism at its worst level.
These comments although still in the so called “brainstorming stage” raises a few more questions.
- Upon whose authority does Trump presume he has to come in and “take over” land that historically belongs to the Palestinians? Is it along the same lines as he threatens to take over Greenland (by military force if necessary) from the Danish government or reclaim the Panama Canal from the Panamanian People? It seems to reek of American Cowboy politics where might is considered right. America was cleared of its original inhabitants by white settler colonialists. Perhaps Trump was alluding to the history of his country. Is this nature of politics to be considered normal in the 21st century AD? What does the United Nations have to say about this unilateral declaration and will the UN have to the guts to stand up to this bully?
- Assuming that the US sends troops into Gaza, what happens if US troops face opposition from the resistance movements (Muqawama) i.e Hamas and Islamic Jihad which is fairly certain? What if the entire population of Gaza refuse to move out and decide to resist ethnic cleansing? Will American troops then engage in war with the residents of Gaza and forcibly remove them? The ceasefire between Hamas and Israel will definitely cease to exist and American planes, armour and ships now crewed by Americans be directly involved to resume the murderous campaign of the Israelis to massacre what remains of Gaza’s population? Will Israel stand still and watch from the sidelines? We do not think so. So the likely outcome of the next war will see a combined American-Israeli military force taking on the outgunned resistance forces in Gaza. If Trump’s crazy idea comes to fruition, we will definitely see US directly involved in the ethnic cleansing of Gaza, the Nakba of 2025.
- Assuming that Gaza is somehow cleared of its original inhabitants and redeveloped as the Riveria of the Middle East” who will populate Trumps Gaza? Trump’s grandiose plan will see wealthy Arabs, Jews and other nationals flock to buy and rent five-star condominiums and luxury hotels whereas the original inhabitants, who are destined to be permanently exiled in refugee camps in the Sinai desert and Jordan under Trump’s pompous plans, look on in despair? Is that the long-term peace Trump is alluding to? What is the value of “peace” to the Palestinians without human rights, justice, and loss of their lands?
- Assuming America takes over the Gaza Strip and develops it into a five-star resort state, the next question we can ask is a long-term American control over Gaza a sustainable political goal? It is very doubtful that America can sustain its long-term control over Gaza especially in the highly volatile and risk-laden atmosphere of the Middle East. American political goals are risk-averse, short-term based and truly self-centered. Once American citizens are put in harms way or the economic gains from rebuilding Gaza is less than the economic and political costs involved, American public sentiment will definitely seek an escape route out ( shades of Iraq and Afghanistan here), American political commitment will be more likely to waiver and break. Should that happen, who will most likely gain control of Gaza after the US leaves? Definitely not Egypt, Jordan or the pathetic Palestinian Authority. No prizes for guessing who.
- Israel will just walk in and take over a highly developed Gaza five-star resort state from the Americans. So if the civilized world does nothing to oppose Trump’s plan at this early stage, we will soon see the ethnic cleansing of the inhabitants of Gaza completed by the bloody hands of Uncle Sam and the eventual incorporation of Gaza into the Eretz Yisrael HaShlema (Land of Greater Israel) as prospered by the Zionists. Is this what we want to see happen?
The world must act and act now.
