Hamas has strongly opposed a plan reportedly under consideration by US President Donald Trump that would see the United States take administrative control of Gaza and relocate its population.
Nearly two years after Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following Hamas militants’ attack on 7 October 2023, much of the territory remains in ruins, with the vast majority of its roughly two million residents displaced at least once.
The Washington Post reported that the White House is exploring a plan to place Gaza under a US trusteeship for at least a decade, transforming the territory into a tourism and high-tech hub. The proposal reportedly calls for the temporary relocation of Gaza’s population, either to other countries or to secured zones within the territory.
Hamas officials dismissed the initiative, describing it as unacceptable and asserting that Gaza is an integral part of the Palestinian homeland. The idea has drawn condemnation from Palestinians and across the Arab world, with critics likening any forced displacement to the 1948 Nakba, when many Palestinians were uprooted during Israel’s establishment.
The proposal, outlined in a 38-page prospectus, suggests residents who own land could receive digital tokens from the Gaza Reconstitution, Economic Acceleration and Transformation (GREAT) Trust. These tokens could be used to start a new life elsewhere or to obtain housing in planned “smart cities” within Gaza.
Locals expressed scepticism about the plan. Some dismissed it as impractical, insisting that the priority should be ending the ongoing conflict and restoring peace. Others indicated conditional support, saying they would consider relocation if it guaranteed an end to the fighting and guarantees to rebuild Gaza.
The US State Department has not yet commented on the report.
