By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hussam al-Masri
CAIRO/GAZA (Reuters) – Shaban Shaqaleh, whose Gaza home was destroyed in Israel’s recent military offensive, had plans to take his family for a break in Egypt once the Hamas-Israel ceasefire was secure. However, his plans changed following Donald Trump’s announcement of a new resettlement and development plan for Gaza, which would not grant the residents the right to return.
The Tel Al-Hawa neighborhood in Gaza City, once filled with newly constructed buildings, now lies mostly deserted, lacking basic amenities like running water and electricity. Shaqaleh’s own home is among the ruins. “We are devastated by the destruction and displacement, and I had considered leaving for a safer future until Trump’s unsettling statements,” Shaqaleh, 47, conveyed to Reuters.
Trump’s proposal entails resettling Gaza’s approximately 2.2 million Palestinians and transferring control and ownership of the enclave to the United States for redevelopment into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Shaqaleh strongly opposes the idea of selling his homeland to foreign entities and being unable to return. “I am deeply connected to my homeland and will always be,” he affirmed.
Facing uncertainty, Shaqaleh now seeks shelter in Gaza City. “I got my first haircut outside my destroyed house this morning, Mr. President,” he remarked.
The notion of Palestinians vacating Gaza, a desire for independence in their own state, has long been rejected by Palestinian leadership and neighboring Arab nations. Trump’s stern rhetoric on Gaza escalated after Hamas halted the release of Israeli hostages, prompting threats of further escalation if hostages were not released by Saturday.
Amid the dire situation in Gaza, with ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises, residents like Samira Al-Sabea express defiance against imposed hardships. Meanwhile, calls for viable solutions from Palestinian leaders persist among the population, emphasizing the need for effective action in response to external pressures.
(Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi, Additional reporting by Hussam al-Masri)
Gaza, Editing by Timothy Heritage.
