U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to forcibly displace Palestinians from the besieged Gaza Strip has provoked fierce denunciations from Palestinian resistance groups and civil society inside Gaza.

Speaking during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump asserted that Palestinians had “no alternative” but to leave their homes in Gaza—a statement that has been widely condemned as a blatant attempt to ignore Palestinian national rights.

During the meeting, President Trump described Gaza as “a mess” and a “demolition site,” arguing that its inhabitants would be better off relocating to other areas. “I don't think people should be going back to Gaza. I think that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They've lived like hell, they've lived like you're living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living,” Trump declared, adding that the only reason Palestinians want to return is that they have no viable alternative.

Earlier in the day, Trump repeated similar remarks, suggesting that relocating Palestinians would offer them a “safe and beautiful alternative” to life in Gaza—a narrative that has ignited outrage among those who see it as an attempt to erase the Palestinian presence from their historic homeland.

Palestinian resistance groups have vehemently rejected Trump’s proposal. A senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri, denounced the plan as racist and a clear effort to dismiss the Palestinian cause. “Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass. What is required is an end to the occupation and aggression against our people, not their expulsion from their land,” he stated, emphasizing that the true objective behind Trump’s remarks is to justify the ongoing aggression against Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq reiterated that the people of Gaza are deeply rooted in their homeland. “Our people in Gaza have thwarted displacement and deportation plans under bombardment for more than 15 months. They are determined to stay in their land and will not accept any scheme aimed at uprooting them from their homeland,” al-Rishq declared.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad also weighed in, arguing that 15 months of relentless Israeli aggression and the influx of American weapons could not force the resilient people of Gaza to abandon their homes. The group underscored the historic tradition of Palestinian resistance—a struggle spanning more than a century—that has consistently rejected forced displacement as an option.

Trump’s comments come at a time when the future of Gaza hangs in the balance following a brutal 15-month war that resulted in the deaths of over 47,300 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Despite the devastation, hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to the northern part of the Gaza Strip, determined to reclaim their lives and rebuild their communities.

Critics of the proposal argue that Trump's plan to “clean out” Palestinian land and relocate its inhabitants to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan is not only inhumane but also a dangerous step that could further destabilize the already volatile region. By suggesting that Palestinians would be “thrilled” to live elsewhere, Trump’s rhetoric is seen as an attempt to legitimize the forced displacement of a people who have continuously demonstrated their unwavering attachment to their historic homeland.

As the international community watches closely, Palestinian leaders and resistance groups continue to mobilize against any initiative that seeks to displace Palestinians. They reaffirm that the right of Palestinians to remain in Gaza—and to determine their own future—remains non-negotiable, regardless of external pressures or proposals put forth by foreign leaders.

The debate over displacement has now added another contentious chapter to the long history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Trump's remarks igniting protests and calls for solidarity with the people of Gaza. For Palestinians, the struggle is not just about survival under siege but about preserving their identity, rights, and connection to their land—a connection that no external force can sever. (ILKHA)