Reported by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hussam al-Masri
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) – Shaban Shaqaleh, a resident of Gaza whose home was destroyed during Israel’s recent military offensive, had planned to take his family on a trip to Egypt once the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel was firmly established. However, his plans changed following Donald Trump’s announcement of a controversial proposal to resettle Palestinians in Gaza and redevelop the region without granting them the right of return.
The Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, once filled with newly constructed multi-story buildings, now lies empty and in disrepair, lacking basic amenities like water and electricity. Shaqaleh’s own home is among those that have been reduced to ruins.
Expressing his dismay at the situation, Shaqaleh, 47, shared with Reuters via a messaging app, “The devastation, displacement, and loss of life have left me fearful. I had considered leaving for the sake of my children’s safety and future until Trump’s unsettling remarks. The idea of being forced to leave my homeland without a chance to return is unbearable.”
Under Trump’s proposal, Gaza’s population of roughly 2.2 million Palestinians would be relocated, with the United States assuming control and transforming the area into a luxurious destination dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Rejecting this notion, Shaqaleh declared, “I refuse to sell my home or land to foreign entities and abandon my homeland forever. My roots run deep in this soil and will continue to do so.”
Currently seeking shelter in Gaza City, Shaqaleh emphasized, “I had my hair cut outside my destroyed home this morning, Mr. President.”
Any suggestion of Palestinians vacating Gaza, a place they envision as part of an independent state, has long been vehemently rejected by Palestinian leaders and neighboring Arab countries since the onset of the Gaza conflict in 2023.
Facing a deadline set for Saturday, Trump issued stern warnings to Hamas following their decision to halt the release of Israeli captives outlined in the ceasefire agreement that commenced on January 19, citing Israeli violations. He demanded the unconditional release of remaining hostages by midday on Saturday, threatening to rescind the ceasefire otherwise.
Reacting to Trump’s ultimatum, Palestinians expressed outrage at the prospect of further suffering. Jomaa Abu Kosh, a resident of Rafah in southern Gaza, standing amidst the ruins, questioned, “A hell worse than what we’ve endured already? The atrocities committed in Gaza are unparalleled.”
Samira Al-Sabea, a Gazan woman, accused Israel of impeding aid deliveries, an accusation refuted by the Israeli government, which launched its military campaign in Gaza following an attack led by Hamas on October 7, 2023. “Our living conditions are deplorable, worse than animals,” she lamented. ”
Masri in Gaza, Editing by Timothy Heritage
