Trump Proposes “Cleansing” Gaza Plan, Supported by Ben Gvir and Smotrich
U.S. President Donald Trump suggests relocating Gaza’s population to Egypt and Jordan, a controversial plan endorsed by Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Watan-U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a controversial plan to “clear out” Gaza, proposing that Egypt and Jordan take in Palestinians from the region to achieve peace in the Middle East. The plan received strong backing from Israeli far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir, the resigned National Security Minister, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Describing Gaza as a “destroyed place,” Trump said he had discussed the issue with Jordan’s King Abdullah II and planned further discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he stated, “I would like Egypt to take people in. I would like Jordan to take people in.”
Trump added, “We are talking about 1.5 million people to clear out the entire area. As you know, this region has seen conflicts for centuries. I don’t know, but something must happen.”
He suggested the relocation could be “temporary or long-term,” explaining, “It is literally a destroyed place now, everything is devastated, and people are dying there. So, I prefer reaching out to some Arab countries and building housing elsewhere where they can live peacefully.”
The Trump administration pledged “steadfast support” for Israel but provided few details about its broader Middle East policy.
Trump also confirmed he had ordered the Pentagon to release a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel, previously frozen by former President Joe Biden. “We released it today,” Trump said, adding, “They paid for it, and they’ve been waiting for it for a long time.”
During his campaign, Trump remarked that Gaza could become “better than Monaco” if “built the right way.” His son-in-law and former White House advisor Jared Kushner had suggested in February 2023 that Israel should remove civilians from Gaza to unlock its potential for beachfront real estate development.
Far-right Israeli ministers openly support the idea of forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
Ben Gvir and Smotrich Approve
Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir praised Trump’s plan to “clear out” Gaza, saying, “I applaud President Trump for his initiative to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt.” Ben Gvir added that one of his demands to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to “promote voluntary migration.”
The far-right minister stated, “When the leader of the world’s most powerful nation suggests voluntary migration for Palestinians, it is wise for our government to encourage and implement it.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also supported the proposal, calling it “a great idea to help Gaza’s residents find other places to start new lives.” Smotrich said he would work with Netanyahu and the cabinet to ensure the mass relocation of Gazans to neighboring countries.
Background and Humanitarian Crisis
Most of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced multiple times during the genocide carried out by the Israeli occupation since October 7, 2023. With U.S. support, Tel Aviv committed acts of genocide between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025, leaving over 158,000 Palestinians dead or injured, most of them women and children, along with more than 14,000 missing. The onslaught caused one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
