In a shocking display of imperial arrogance, President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to purchase and “own” the Gaza Strip, likening the Palestinian people to chattel in a modern-day feudal system.
His remarks, made during a February 4 press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have sparked global condemnation, with critics accusing Trump of advocating for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“We’ll own it,” Trump declared, referring to Gaza. “We’ll take care of the Palestinians and ensure they are not killed.”
The statement, dripping with paternalistic condescension, has drawn comparisons to the serfdom of medieval Europe, where lords claimed dominion over land and people alike.
Trump’s vision of transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has been met with outrage from Palestinians, human rights organizations, and governments worldwide.
The international community has roundly rejected Trump’s proposal, with countries including Britain, France, Germany, Brazil, Australia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, and China condemning the plan as unlawful and immoral.
Francesca Albanese, an Italian international lawyer who was appointed United Nations Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, called Trump’s remarks “worse than ethnic cleansing” and a clear violation of international law.
“This is forced displacement, which is an international crime,” said Albanese. “No one has the right to say how Gaza will be rebuilt, other than the Palestinians.”
Trump’s plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and assume U.S. ownership of the territory constitutes a grave breach of international law.
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) classifies the unlawful deportation or transfer of a population as both a war crime and a crime against humanity. Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits the forcible transfer of protected persons from occupied territory, regardless of motive.
“Trump’s scheme to own Gaza is a violation of international law and a grotesque revival of colonial exploitation,” said Lisa McCormick, an anti-establishment Democrat from New Jersey. “The Palestinian people are not property to be bought and sold. They are a nation with a history, a culture, and an unyielding commitment to their homeland. The world must reject Trump’s plan and stand firmly on the side of justice.”
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on July 19, 2024, that Gaza remains an occupied territory under international law, and Israel’s occupation violates fundamental principles of sovereignty and self-determination.
Trump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza and displace its population would exacerbate Israel’s ongoing violations and implicate the United States in these crimes.
Trump’s plan echoes the darkest chapters of Palestinian history.
In 1948, over 750,000 Palestinians were victims of ethnic cleansing and forced from their homes, massacred by the thousands as hundreds of villages were destroyed to establish the state of Israel.
Today, Gaza is home to over two million people, the majority of whom are refugees or descendants of refugees from the Nakba.
“We shouldn’t call them Palestinian refugees,” Albanese said. “We should call them Nakba survivors, deprived of a homeland.”
The right of return for Palestinian refugees is enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolution 194, which affirms that refugees wishing to return to their homes should be permitted to do so.
Yet, for 76 years, Israel has systematically denied this right, while continuing to expand its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has killed over 62,000 Palestinians and displaced 85% of the population. The use of U.S.-supplied bombs and weapons has turned Gaza into a “hell,” as Trump himself described it.
Rather than addressing the root causes of this devastation, Trump’s plan seeks to capitalize on it, proposing to “level” Gaza and rebuild it as a U.S.-owned enclave.
“This is not just about rebuilding Gaza,” said Ben Saul, an Australian lawyer who is UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism. “This is about erasing Palestinian identity and sovereignty.”
Despite the overwhelming destruction, Palestinians have demonstrated unwavering resilience. Videos of families returning to northern Gaza to set up tents on the rubble of their homes have gone viral, symbolizing their unbreakable connection to their land.
“Anyone who believes Palestinians will voluntarily leave their homeland is naïve,” wrote Palestinian American author Michel Moushabeck. “Palestine belongs to its Indigenous people, not to those who have stolen it.”
The international community must hold Trump and Netanyahu accountable for their crimes. The ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Trump’s efforts to undermine the ICC, including imposing sanctions on its officials, further highlight his disregard for international law.
Human rights organizations and governments must take immediate action to:
- Reject Trump’s plan and any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians.
- Ensure the right of return for Palestinian refugees and provide humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- Impose sanctions on Israel, including a military embargo, to end its illegal occupation.
- Support the ICC’s investigations into war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Reinstate funding for UNRWA, the lifeline for millions of Palestinian refugees.
Trump’s colonial fantasies have no place in the 21st century. The Palestinian people, like all people, have the right to self-determination, sovereignty, and dignity. The world must stand with them in their struggle for justice and freedom.