U.S. and Israel Eye Resettlement Plans for Gaza Residents, Sources Reveal
According to three people privy to the discussions, the Trump administration along with Israel reached out to the governments of Sudan and Somalia, and were additionally considering Syria, as possible locations for resettling Palestinians from Gaza.
One of multiple strategies being considered by the Trump administration involves the potential relocation of Palestinians to another nation. This approach forms part of President Trump’s broader aim to resolve Israel's conflict with Hamas in Gaza and restore the damaged Palestinian territory.
"No one is deporting Palestinians," President Trump stated on Wednesday. This comment came during the Irish Prime Minister’s visit for an Oval Office meeting with Mr. Trump, where a Voice of America journalist questioned him regarding his earlier comments made in February suggesting the possibility of acquiring control over Gaza to reconstruct it.
Mr. Trump made these comments during a February 4th press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting that Gaza might be the Côte d'Azur of the Middle East. "
"We ought to visit other nations of interest with compassionate intentions, as numerous countries support this idea. We can develop several areas that will eventually house the 1.8 million Palestinians residing in Gaza, thereby putting an end to the suffering and devastation," Mr. Trump stated.
Israeli and U.S. authorities conveyed messages to Sudan and Somalia, as reported by two diplomatic sources to CBS News. High-ranking members of the right-wing Israeli administration were involved. have already been calling For Palestinians to move from the enclosed area, Mr. Trump's comments have encouraged Israel to approach other nations to discuss possibilities for relocating Palestinians, according to a source.
Three people close to Mr. Trump’s plan for relocating Palestinians to another nation informed CBS News that both his administration and Israel were considering Syria as well. A person acquainted with the Trump administration's strategy regarding the Middle East mentioned that they tried reaching out to Syria's provisional leadership through an intermediary party. Additionally, a regional figure reported to CBS News that although Syria's regime was contacted, it remained uncertain if they provided any feedback on this overture.
A high-ranking Syrian official informed CBS News that they have not received any approaches from either Israel or the U.S. regarding the relocation of people from Gaza.
Dahir Hassan, Somalia's ambassador to the U.S., told CBS News that "neither the U.S. administration nor Israeli authorities have approached the Somali government regarding any proposed relocation of Palestinians to Somalia." Hassan also cited concern that "the dissemination of such unverified information risks fueling recruitment propaganda for extremist groups like ISIS and Al-Shabaab, potentially exacerbating security challenges in the region."
The Sudanese government has not replied to a CBS News' request for comment.
The nascent interim government of Syria has only been around for three months. After toppling Bashar al-Assad And his harsh rule, which maintained strict control over the Syrian population for years. The northeastern African country of Sudan is presently grappling with a civil war and a refugee crisis while enduring isolated regions of conflict. famine Over the past twenty years, tens of thousands of Sudanese refugees have fled to Israel seeking asylum but instead found themselves imprisoned in the nation’s desert detention facilities or were allowed to remain without official documentation. In Eastern Africa, the unstable former failing state of Somalia grapples with an ongoing violent rebellion led by the extremist Islamic organization Al-Shabaab.
Since his February 4 press conference, Mr. Trump has proposed that Palestinians might have an option about leaving, yet he has also hinted that they may permanently depart from Gaza. Fox News interview A few days afterward, he stated, "We will construct attractive and secure neighborhoods, possibly as many as five or six, or even just two. However, these safe communities will be established somewhat apart from where the Palestinians reside." During the same discussion, he said that Palestinians would not retain the right to go back to Gaza according to his proposal since the territory "isn't livable" and will remain so for many years ahead.
The United Nations reported in January Over 90% of the housing units in Gaza have sustained damage or complete destruction, and approximately 1.9 million Gazan residents have been forced from their homes. According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 48,000 Palestinians have lost their lives during the conflict between Israel and Hamas, starting with the October 7, 2023, assault carried out by Hamas where over 1,000 Israelis were killed and around 100 taken captive.
Several Middle Eastern governments, the United Nations, and certain Democratic members of Congress swiftly condemned Mr. Trump’s proposal to evacuate Gaza entirely. Some described this notion as ethnic cleansing. However, Arab leaders supported an alternate reconstruction plan proposed by Egypt last week. Both the Trump administration and Israeli officials opposed this approach. quick to reject It, once more stating that the Gaza Strip is unlivable.
The administration of former President Joe Biden had regularly dispatched U.S. officials to hold meetings with the newly formed Syrian government in Damascus prior to Mr. Trump’s inauguration; however, these visits ceased abruptly. When Mr. Trump made his comments in February, Syria’s new head, Ahmed al-Sharaa—formerly recognized as Abu Mohammad al-Jolani—swiftly denounced them, stating that the U.S. president's proposal constitutes “a grave offense.” will ultimately fail It remains uncertain what the policy of the Trump administration towards the newly formed Syrian government will be.
Mouaz Moustafa, who serves as the executive director of the Washington-based group Syrian Emergency Task Force, stated to CBS News that the Biden administration should initiate direct talks with the new regime in Damascus, notably following the pact between Damascus and the SDF—the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces. To prevent Iran from regaining influence within Syria, secure a lasting victory over ISIS, and withdraw American troops properly—unlike how things transpired in Afghanistan—a comprehensive approach must be taken.
Since December, Israel has carried out extensive aerial attacks in Syria targeting locations said to be associated with the Assad regime’s weaponry. Additionally, Israel has taken control of areas within the buffer zone separating the two nations. Last week, Israeli forces launched strikes deep into a Damascus suburb, claiming they were dismantling the command center of the Islamic Jihad, an armed faction backed by Iran with significant influence in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
A representative from the State Department referred questions to the Israeli government and informed CBS News that Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff “is continuing his relentless efforts toward either extending Phase One of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal or progressing to Phase Two, keeping these guidelines in mind.”
The State Department additionally pointed out comments made by Witkoff from a February Fox News interview In his statement, he mentioned, "We must investigate fresh policy solutions that will eventually lead to an improved quality of life for Gazans and Palestinians."
In the same Fox interview, Witkoff proposed that all Palestinians from Gaza could relocate to other Middle Eastern Arab countries as well as other nations outside of the region. He stated, "The President’s idea seems to be about finding a place for these two million individuals. The clear options appear to be Egypt and Jordan in part, but also other countries which have approached us expressing their willingness to contribute to what they see as a humanitarian endeavor."
When asked by "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan on Sunday whether the Trump administration was discussing with other nations the relocation of two million Palestinians in Gaza, Witkoff said again I believe we’re examining every possibility and alternative that could improve life for the Gazans, Margaret. Additionally, this includes enhancing the lives of Israelis as well. We are looking into all these aspects.
millions of Palestinian refugees currently reside in nearby Arab nations such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt. Extreme right-wing Israeli politicians have been advocating more frequently for relocating Palestinians from both Gaza and the West Bank, arguing that this move aligns with a literal interpretation of biblical promises to Jewish people and enhances Israel’s safety.
The Israeli government, the White House, along with its National Security Council, chose not to reply to several CBS News requests for comments.
Donald Trump's son-in-law and ex-advisor, Jared Kushner, initially proposed that Gaza’s "coastal areas might have significant economic potential, particularly for development, provided that efforts were made to enhance local economies," during a televised conversation at Harvard University. February 2024 .
The Associated Press was the first to report Friday the U.S. and Israel had reached out to Sudan, Somalia, and even Somaliland regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza.
