In a move that has sparked significant controversy, ex-President Donald Trump has proposed transferring the entire population of Gaza to different nations as a possible resolution to the region’s ongoing crisis. This suggestion, presented during a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, has met with strong disapproval from international aid experts and human rights groups, who caution that such a plan could worsen the already severe humanitarian conditions experienced by Palestinians.
Trump’s remarks entailed a concept for creating what he referred to as “different areas” in other nations to accommodate Gaza’s 1.8 million inhabitants. He asserted that this would put a stop to the “death and destruction” in the region, noting that Palestinians would depart from Gaza only if presented with another option. The proposal has ignited extensive discussion, with many critics deeming it unfeasible and contrary to international law.
Persistent humanitarian issues in Gaza
For many years, Gaza has faced severe humanitarian difficulties, worsened by prolonged conflict, blockades, and the breakdown of infrastructure. The continued hostilities between Israel and Hamas have further ravaged the region, leaving its inhabitants in urgent need of essentials such as food, clean water, and healthcare. Aid workers report widespread devastation and displacement, with countless families residing in temporary shelters amidst the debris of their previous homes.
For decades, Gaza has struggled with extreme humanitarian challenges, compounded by years of conflict, blockades, and infrastructure collapse. The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has further devastated the territory, leaving its population in desperate need of basic necessities like food, clean water, and medical care. Aid workers describe scenes of widespread destruction and displacement, with thousands of families living in makeshift shelters amid the rubble of their former homes.
Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the critical need to tackle these healthcare deficiencies. Shakir stated, “Priority should be given to reconstructing Gaza’s health infrastructure and delivering medical support locally.” He further mentioned that relocating the population would fail to resolve the underlying issues of the crisis and might risk access to crucial care for at-risk groups.
Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the urgency of addressing these healthcare gaps. “The focus must be on rebuilding Gaza’s health system and providing medical aid on the ground,” Shakir stated. He added that displacing the population would not address the root causes of the crisis and could jeopardize access to essential care for vulnerable groups.
Displacement as a potential threat
“La idea de trasladar a las personas en un momento en que sus necesidades son tan graves no es una solución”, explicó Sheline. “Es absurdo presentar esto como si fuera por su bien en lugar de centrarse en proporcionar los recursos que necesitan para recuperarse y reconstruir”.
“The idea of displacing people at a time when their needs are so severe is not a solution,” Sheline explained. “It’s absurd to frame this as being in their best interests rather than focusing on providing the resources they need to recover and rebuild.”
Escasez de alimentos y agua
La inseguridad alimentaria sigue siendo uno de los problemas más urgentes de Gaza. Un informe de la Iniciativa de Clasificación Integrada de Fases de Seguridad Alimentaria, respaldada por las Naciones Unidas, subrayó el continuo riesgo de hambruna en la región. El informe clasificó los niveles de inseguridad alimentaria de Gaza como una “emergencia” y pronosticó que los casos de malnutrición aguda podrían superar los 60,000 para abril de 2025. Aunque Israel se ha comprometido a aumentar el número de camiones de ayuda que entran en Gaza bajo un acuerdo de alto el fuego, las organizaciones humanitarias señalan que entregar ayuda es complicado debido a carreteras dañadas y artefactos explosivos sin detonar.
Food insecurity remains one of Gaza’s most pressing issues. A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, backed by the United Nations, highlighted the ongoing risk of famine in the territory. The report classified Gaza’s food insecurity levels as an “emergency” and predicted that acute malnutrition cases could exceed 60,000 by April 2025. Although Israel has pledged to increase the number of aid trucks entering Gaza under a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian organizations note that delivering aid is complicated by damaged roads and unexploded ordnance.
Shakir enfatizó que aumentar la ayuda y reparar la infraestructura de Gaza debe ser la prioridad inmediata. “Reconstruir los sistemas de agua y electricidad es fundamental”, afirmó. “Trasladar a las personas a otro lugar no garantiza mejores condiciones y corre el riesgo de replicar los mismos desafíos en otros sitios”.
Shakir stressed that scaling up aid and repairing Gaza’s infrastructure must be the immediate priority. “Rebuilding water and electricity systems is essential,” he said. “Displacing people to another location doesn’t guarantee better conditions and risks replicating the same challenges elsewhere.”
Los detractores de la propuesta de reubicación de Trump han advertido sobre la posible creación de campos de refugiados a largo plazo. Sheline mencionó los comentarios de Jared Kushner, yerno y exasesor principal de Trump, que sugieren la posibilidad de trasladar a los habitantes de Gaza al desierto del Néguev en el sur de Israel. Sheline comparó esta idea con la creación de un campamento de refugiados permanente, señalando que tales condiciones probablemente serían mucho peores que las que existían en Gaza antes de la guerra.
Critics of Trump’s relocation proposal have raised alarms about the potential establishment of long-term refugee camps. Sheline pointed to comments from Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior advisor, suggesting the possibility of relocating Gazans to the Negev desert in southern Israel. Sheline likened this vision to creating a permanent refugee camp, noting that such conditions would likely be far worse than those that existed in Gaza before the war.
“The fundamental issue isn’t just about survival,” Sheline said. “Palestinians have the right to self-determination and a state of their own. Displacement fails to address this fundamental aspiration and instead risks leaving them in limbo, dependent on aid and without a clear future.”
The need for sustainable solutions
“El verdadero enfoque debe estar en salvar vidas y ofrecer soluciones a largo plazo dentro de Gaza”, enfatizó Shakir. “Esto significa permitir la entrada de profesionales médicos y trabajadores humanitarios en la zona, aumentar las entregas de ayuda e invertir en proyectos que restituyan servicios esenciales como la atención médica, el agua y la electricidad”.
Sheline compartió esta opinión, argumentando que el desplazamiento solo trasladaría la crisis a otro lugar sin resolver los problemas subyacentes. “No se trata solo de satisfacer necesidades básicas”, indicó. “Los palestinos merecen la oportunidad de reconstruir sus hogares, sus comunidades y su futuro en su propia tierra”.
Sheline echoed this sentiment, arguing that displacement would only shift the crisis to a new location without resolving the underlying issues. “It’s not just about meeting basic needs,” she said. “Palestinians deserve the chance to rebuild their homes, their communities, and their futures in their own land.”
Las declaraciones de Trump han atraído una condena generalizada de la comunidad internacional. Organizaciones de derechos humanos y expertos en políticas exteriores han calificado el plan de irreal e inhumano, advirtiendo que sienta un precedente peligroso para abordar crisis humanitarias. Muchos han instado al gobierno de EE. UU. a centrarse en apoyar los esfuerzos para estabilizar Gaza y atender las necesidades inmediatas de su población.
Además, la propuesta de Trump ha generado inquietudes sobre las implicaciones más amplias del desplazamiento forzoso. Los críticos sostienen que tal enfoque socava el derecho internacional y podría conducir a una mayor inestabilidad en una región ya volátil.
Additionally, Trump’s proposal has sparked concerns about the broader implications of forced displacement. Critics argue that such an approach undermines international law and could lead to further instability in an already volatile region.
