In a recent interview with government television, Syria’s new president, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Sharaa described the proposal as a "grave crime" that would fail to achieve its objectives.
Trump’s plan suggested a form of direct U.S. governance over Gaza, focusing on economic revival while relocating Palestinians elsewhere, with no intention of allowing them to return to Gaza.
Sharaa, an Islamist leader and head of the militant group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham (formerly linked to al-Qaeda), rejected the proposal in an interview with a UK podcast, stating that no power could successfully displace people from their land. He referenced historical failures, emphasizing that attempts to force people from their land, including in Gaza, had never succeeded.
The Syrian president, who ascended to power after his group's involvement in ousting Bashar Assad, also criticized the idea of displacing Palestinians as “foolhardy” and morally reprehensible. He reminded listeners that for over 80 years, attempts to remove Palestinians from their land had failed, with displaced people expressing regret over leaving. He noted that Palestinian generations deeply value their land and continue to resist efforts to uproot them.
Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, have also voiced strong opposition to the relocation plan, expressing concerns that it would diminish the prospects for a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. These nations also fear the plan could create more challenges for neighboring Arab countries.
This development further underscores the ongoing regional tensions and the geopolitical significance of the Gaza Strip in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
