Ethnic Cleansing or Sound Thinking?

Donald Trump has been accused by many of planning the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian people from the Gaza Strip after he said on Tuesday that the United States would take it over, move its inhabitants and develop the area into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, explained later that Trump`s proposal is not negative, but a “generous move” showing “the willingness of the United States to become responsible for the reconstruction of that area.” The idea is for Gazans to leave while debris and munitions are cleared and reconstruction takes place – which could be an extensive period, given the level of damage to buildings.

The White House press secretary further clarified on Wednesday that,

“The president has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza … not committed to that just yet.”

“He has also said that the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza.
His administration is going to work with our partners in the region to reconstruct this region.”

That there is sound thinking behind Donald Trump’s idea has been highlighted over the last 24 hours by a severe storm that has flooded makeshift shelters and destroyed tents, leaving thousands of Gazans exposed to very cold temperatures and miserable conditions.

When these miserable conditions are added to the extensive damage to buildings, the piles of rubble, and the fact that back in 2021 as many as 36 percent of Gazans already wanted to emigrate, Trump’s idea seems much more reasonable.

Israel’s Foreign Minister welcomed it, alluding to the restrictions placed on Gazans by their Egyptian neighbours when he said:

“The people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration, as is customary everywhere in the world. The plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.”

In the following interview with Sky News Australia, Douglas Murray summarised it by saying, “Gaza isn’t especially liveable these days.” And going on to note that:

“There is a price to be paid, that always has been historically,
for starting wars again and again against your neighbours and then losing them.”