Map Shows Proposals for Relocating Gaza's Palestinians

Although U.S. President Donald Trump has said there is no intention to expel the Palestinian population from Gaza, he has proposed the relocation of its people so that the devastated territory can be rebuilt.

Israeli leaders have praised the idea and said they would encourage the voluntary emigration of the Palestinians - who along with Arab countries and much of the world have rejected the idea as impractical as well as amounting to ethnic cleansing.

This has also raised questions over where the Palestinians would go. Trump initially proposed Egypt and Jordan as destinations, but both countries have strongly rejected the idea. Some African countries are now being considered as destinations, according to the Associated Press.

The Context

Supporters of Trump's proposal see it as a way to try to change the unending cycle of wars and ceasefires in the territory that is ruled by Hamas, an Islamist group that is committed to destroying Israel. At very least, they say, it could pressure regional countries to do more to bring stability.

Its opponents say it would in effect be inhuman ethnic cleansing and would end prospects for a two-state solution of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip alongside Israel — an idea that has long had the support of much of the world.

What To Know

Trump's plan envisions the permanent relocation of Gaza's over two million residents. It proposes that the U.S. take control of the territory and redevelop the area into a luxury destination, potentially a "Riviera of the Middle East."

In January, Trump first suggested Egypt and Jordan take in the Palestinian population of Gaza, but both countries rejected this. The U.S. and Israeli officials have now reached out to three African countries as potential destinations for the Gazan population, according to the Associated Press. Of those, Sudan rejected the U.S. proposal, while Somalia and its breakaway region Somaliland said they were not aware of any contacts.

Potential Destination Countries

Egypt: Egypt ruled Gaza until it was captured by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war but shows no interest in taking back either the territory or its people. Egypt has presented its own plan to rebuild Gaza with endorsement from Arab leaders. Egypt is wary of the Muslim Brotherhood in which Hamas has its roots and has been fighting militant insurgents in the Sinai Peninsula, which neighbors Gaza.

Jordan: Trump reiterated his initial suggestion during a White House meeting with King Abdullah II. The king emphasized his opposition to the displacement of Palestinians after returning home. Jordan already hosts many Palestinians, with the U.N. reporting that more than 2.39 million registered Palestine refugees live in the country. Jordan ruled the West Bank and East Jerusalem until the 1967 war.

Sudan: Sudan signed the Abraham Accords with Israel in 2020. The deal resulted in the removal of Sudan from U.S. list of states sponsoring terrorism, reintegrating it in the global community and giving it access to international loans. However, Sudan tumbled into its own bloody civil war in 2023.

Somalia: Somalia, a strong supporter of Palestinian self-determination, has joined Arab nations in rejecting U.S. proposals to relocate Gaza's population. Somalia has been beset by over three decades of conflict and parts of the country are under the sway as Islamist militias while it is also subject to bitter clan rivalries.

Somaliland: A breakaway region from Somalia with over 3 million people, Somaliland rules itself and has long sought international recognition. That could give it a different incentive for an agreement than its neighbors. Somaliland is largely peaceful.

What People Are Saying

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "President Trump has presented a bold new vision and the only plan that I think can work to enable a different future for the people of Gaza, for the people of Israel, for the surrounding areas."

Hamas Political Bureau Hossam Badran: "The Palestinian people remain steadfast and committed to their land, refusing to abandon their homeland, regardless of the U.S. President stance."

What Happens Next

It is far from clear that any territory would accept to take a large number of Palestinians, whether or not they move voluntarily, meaning that discussions may need to come up with an alternative solution for Gaza.