Trump considering sending Gazans to Somaliland and Puntland
Washington (QJ) – Morocco, Somaliland, and Puntland are among the regions being considered by newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump as potential destinations for relocating Palestinians from Gaza as part of a post-reconstruction plan, N12 Israel reported on Wednesday.
According to N12, cited by the Jerusalem Post, Morocco’s involvement in the plan appears to be linked to its territorial dispute over Western Sahara, while Somaliland and Puntland are seeking international recognition. The report suggested that these regions need U.S. support given their geopolitical challenges.
This reported proposal follows Trump’s previous remarks about the U.S. “taking over” Gaza, leveling it, and creating what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He made these remarks at a joint conference following a meeting in Washington, D.C., with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump had previously suggested relocating more than one million Palestinians from war-torn Gaza to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan, to facilitate Gaza’s reconstruction. Both Jordan and Egypt strongly rejected the proposal.
The controversial plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza has sparked widespread criticism, with opponents describing it as unrealistic and morally unacceptable.
Netanyahu, unsurprisingly, praised Trump’s idea as “brilliant” and claimed that Palestinians would be given the option to return once Gaza was rebuilt.
Far-right Israeli leaders have long supported the idea of voluntary Palestinian migration from Gaza. Most observers believe this aligns with Israel’s long-term project of depopulating Gaza of Palestinians.
The Trump administration faced strong opposition to the proposal, with reports indicating that some officials were trying to frame it as temporary rather than permanent expulsion. However, Trump made it clear that he wanted all Gazans relocated, stating, “That place was hell.”
Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza has faced widespread condemnation, with analysts arguing that it disregards Palestinian rights and sovereignty. Some have questioned the feasibility of the plan given the legal, logistical, and political challenges involved.