Trump's Gaza proposal: the shocking idea that might actually work

Donald Trump's recent proposal for Gaza – resettling the Palestinian population and transforming the strip into a luxury destination – has been met with outrage. Critics are quick to label it "ethnic cleansing" or "a forced expulsion", but what they fail to acknowledge is that traditional solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have failed for over 70 years.

Trump's idea is the first genuinely original approach in decades. While initially shocking, it deserves serious consideration. History provides precedents where large-scale population movements have brought lasting stability. The world has redrawn borders and relocated millions before – not as an act of ethnic cleansing, but as a painful yet necessary solution to end conflicts.

Throughout history, populations have been relocated, borders have shifted, and entire regions have been reshaped – many with long-term success:

After WWII, Poland's borders were moved westward, absorbing former German lands while ceding its eastern territories to the Soviet Union. Millions of Germans and Poles were relocated, yet today, these are peaceful, stable countries. Would Poland or Germany have had lasting peace if millions of displaced Germans had remained as a permanent grievance? Probably not.

During the India-Pakistan Partition (1947) over 10 million people were displaced in one of the largest population movements in history. Though traumatic, it allowed both nations to establish their own clear ethnic and religious identities, preventing perpetual civil war.

While much focus is placed on Palestinian displacement, an often-overlooked fact is that around 850,000 Jews were expelled from Arab countries after Israel’s creation in 1948. They were absorbed into Israel, and history moved on.
None of these were "ethnic cleansing" – they were painful, but they ended ongoing conflicts. If the alternative is perpetual war and destruction, isn’t it worth considering a drastic solution to break the cycle?

Egypt: the logical destination

With over 110 million people, Egypt is the most populous Arab country, and it already shares deep cultural, linguistic, and historical ties with Palestinians. If developed properly, Egypt could easily absorb 2-2.5 million Gazans, offering them a better future than they could ever hope for in a devastated war zone.

The Sinai Peninsula – just across the border –  has massive untapped potential for urban development. With international investment, modern cities could be built, giving displaced Palestinians new homes, infrastructure, and economic opportunities far greater than what exists in Gaza today.

Instead of rebuilding Gaza over and over again, only for it to be destroyed in the next war, why not create a real future for Palestinians in a stable, resource-backed environment?

One of the biggest concerns is that removing Hamas from Gaza could create a security vacuum. But let’s be honest – no Arab nation is stepping up to fix Gaza. Even after earlier conflicts, Arab countries refused to send peacekeeping forces. If regional players won't take responsibility, who else can?

Trump’s idea of a temporary US security presence in Gaza could be the most feasible way to ensure stability: the U.S. has successfully maintained peace in South Korea for decades, NATO interventions in the Balkans helped end conflicts, and Germany and Japan was rebuilt under U.S. security guarantees after WWII.

An international force – led by the U.S. but backed by the EU and moderate Arab states – could guarantee that Gaza never again becomes a terrorist stronghold. Meanwhile, the West Bank could form the foundation of a real Palestinian state – something that the world has tried to establish for decades.

Critics have no better ideas

Those who are outraged by this idea have failed to produce a working alternative for the past 70 years. Palestinians have been offered a state multiple times since Israel’s creation in 1948:

In 1947, the UN Partition Plan would have created a Palestinian state. Arab leaders rejected it and launched a war instead.

In 2000, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered nearly all of the West Bank and Gaza for a Palestinian state. Yasser Arafat walked away.

In 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made an even more generous offer, including parts of East Jerusalem. Mahmoud Abbas rejected it.

Every time a serious offer was made, Palestinian leaders chose war over peace. And today, Gaza is in ruins, ruled by Hamas – who would rather see their people suffer than compromise.

So, to those who criticize Trump's plan: What’s your alternative? If the world keeps doing the same thing, the cycle of war and destruction will never end. The only way to stop the endless bloodshed is to think outside the box. Trump’s plan – while extreme – is the only truly new idea in decades.

Egypt has the land and population to absorb displaced Gazans. A US security presence could prevent further conflict. The West Bank could finally serve as the foundation for a stable Palestinian state.

Gaza has been a disaster for over 70 years. It’s time for a real solution, not just more empty peace talks. Would it be difficult? Absolutely. Would it be better than repeating the same cycle of war and suffering? Without a doubt.

It’s time to stop pretending that traditional peace efforts will ever work. This is the moment to break history’s vicious cycle and finally create a path to lasting stability.

As a key EU player, Luxembourg should work with the US and global partners to assess viable solutions for Gaza, including Trump's proposal. Decades of failed peace efforts show the need for bold, practical ideas. Rather than dismissing unconventional approaches, Luxembourg can help facilitate discussions on solutions that could finally bring stability to the region.

Dr Daniel Kaderjak is a laywer living in Luxembourg.

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