A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, has called on supporters worldwide to take up arms and resist US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to relocate over two million Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries. In a statement released on Monday, Abu Zuhri condemned the proposal, urging anyone who can bear arms to act in defiance of what he described as a “sinister plan” that combines mass displacement with starvation.
“In the face of this plan—one that combines massacres with starvation—anyone who can bear arms, anywhere in the world, must take action,” Abu Zuhri stated, encouraging global support for armed resistance. He further called for the use of any available weapon, whether it be explosives, bullets, knives, or stones, and urged people everywhere to “break their silence” against the proposal.
Abu Zuhri’s statement came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an offer to allow Hamas leaders to leave Gaza, on the condition that the militant group disarm in the final stages of the ongoing war. Despite this offer, Hamas has made it clear that it is willing to relinquish control over Gaza’s administration but views its weapons as a “red line” that cannot be crossed.
The controversy surrounding the potential displacement of Gaza’s population began earlier this year when President Trump proposed a plan to remove all 2.4 million residents of Gaza, suggesting that neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan might take in those displaced. This plan, which Trump called a “voluntary migration plan,” was met with sharp rejection from both Egypt and Jordan, as well as from Palestinian leadership. In mid-March, Trump appeared to backtrack, saying that no one would be forcibly expelled, a statement that was welcomed by Palestinian officials and Arab governments.
However, the idea of displacing Gaza’s population evokes painful memories for many Palestinians, particularly of the “Nakba” or catastrophe—the mass displacement of Palestinians that occurred during the creation of Israel in 1948. The suggestion that the entire population of Gaza could be forcibly relocated has reignited concerns over the future of Palestinian identity and their right to remain on their ancestral land.
Israeli officials have continued to pursue plans to address the Gaza crisis. In February, Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, suggested creating a special agency to facilitate the “voluntary departure” of Gazans. The plan would offer a comprehensive support package for those wishing to leave, which would include arrangements for departure by sea, air, and land.
Despite these proposals, the situation in Gaza has become increasingly dire. The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has escalated dramatically. Since the fighting resumed in mid-March after a nearly two-month ceasefire, the Health Ministry in Gaza has reported that at least 921 people have been killed. In response, Israel’s military campaign has caused significant casualties in Gaza, with the Health Ministry there reporting that at least 50,277 people, the majority of them civilians, have died as a result of the airstrikes and ground offensive.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, the international community remains divided. Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have proposed an alternative plan for the reconstruction of Gaza without requiring the displacement of its people. Under this alternative, the future administration of Gaza would fall under the Palestinian Authority, based in Ramallah. This plan would aim to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure and provide support for the local population, without resorting to mass relocation.
The ongoing conflict has raised significant concerns about the future of Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For many Palestinians, the notion of being displaced from Gaza is an affront to their identity and a continuation of the ongoing struggle for self-determination. As the war intensifies, the calls for resistance, both from within Gaza and from Hamas leaders abroad, show no sign of abating.
The Trump administration’s controversial proposal, and Israel’s subsequent support for it, have only added to the already complex and volatile situation in Gaza. The international community remains deeply divided on how best to resolve the conflict and address the humanitarian disaster that continues to unfold.
The situation in Gaza highlights the fragile nature of the peace process and the ongoing tensions between Israel and the Palestinian territories. As the war progresses and casualties continue to mount, the potential for further escalation remains high. The fate of Gaza’s population, and the broader prospects for peace in the region, continue to hang in the balance.
The Gaza Strip has long been a point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It has been under the control of Hamas, an Islamist militant group, since 2007. In recent years, Gaza has faced significant challenges, including a blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt, which has contributed to widespread poverty and humanitarian suffering.
The Trump administration’s involvement in the region has sparked controversy, with some critics accusing the former US president of favoring Israeli interests over those of Palestinians. Trump’s peace plan, which was unveiled in early 2020, was widely rejected by Palestinians and many Arab countries. The plan proposed a series of economic incentives and territorial concessions, but critics argued it would severely undermine Palestinian sovereignty and leave much of Jerusalem under Israeli control.
The idea of displacing Gaza’s population, however, has become one of the most contentious aspects of the ongoing conflict. It raises fundamental questions about the future of Palestinian refugees and their right to return to their homes, a core issue in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The ongoing violence in Gaza and the failure of international peace efforts have only intensified these debates, leaving little hope for a peaceful resolution in the near future.
