In a move sparking significant debate, former President Donald Trump has proposed transferring the whole population of Gaza to other nations as a possible remedy for the persistent issues in the area. This suggestion, put forward during a discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, has been met with strong disapproval from global aid specialists and human rights defenders, who caution that this plan could worsen the already critical humanitarian conditions affecting Palestinians.
Trump’s remarks outlined a concept for creating what he termed “various domains” in other nations to accommodate the 1.8 million residents of Gaza. He asserted that this would halt the “death and destruction” in the area, emphasizing that Palestinians would only depart from Gaza if provided with a viable option. The proposal has ignited extensive debate, with numerous critics calling it unfeasible and a breach of international regulations.
Persistent humanitarian issues in Gaza
For years, Gaza has faced severe humanitarian difficulties, worsened by prolonged conflict, blockades, and the breakdown of infrastructure. The continuous fighting between Israel and Hamas has exacerbated conditions, leaving the people in urgent need of essentials such as food, clean water, and healthcare. Aid workers report widespread devastation and displacement, with numerous families residing in temporary shelters amidst the debris of their previous homes.
International organizations indicate that the crisis in Gaza has reached unparalleled levels. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that of the 36 hospitals and 11 field hospitals in the area, merely seven are fully functioning, all situated in central or southern Gaza. The others are either partly operational or entirely nonfunctional due to damage and resource shortages. This breakdown of the healthcare system has left more than 111,000 injured people, along with newborns, pregnant women, cancer patients, and those with chronic conditions, without sufficient medical care access.
Omar Shakir, the Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the critical need to tackle these healthcare deficiencies. Shakir stated, “Priority should be given to reconstructing Gaza’s health infrastructure and delivering medical support locally.” He further mentioned that relocating the population would fail to resolve the underlying issues of the crisis and might risk access to crucial care for at-risk groups.
Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch, emphasized the urgency of addressing these healthcare gaps. “The focus must be on rebuilding Gaza’s health system and providing medical aid on the ground,” Shakir stated. He added that displacing the population would not address the root causes of the crisis and could jeopardize access to essential care for vulnerable groups.
Specialists contend that forcibly moving Gaza’s population would probably intensify the humanitarian crisis instead of solving it. Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, condemned the proposal as an ill-conceived effort to present displacement as a humanitarian remedy. Sheline highlighted that this plan overlooks the rights of Palestinians to return to their homes and reconstruct their lives within Gaza.
Experts argue that forcibly relocating Gaza’s population would likely worsen the humanitarian crisis rather than resolve it. Annelle Sheline, a research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, criticized the proposal as a misguided attempt to reframe displacement as a humanitarian solution. Sheline pointed out that such a plan disregards the rights of Palestinians to return to their homes and rebuild their lives within Gaza.
El desplazamiento también plantea serias preocupaciones legales y éticas. El derecho internacional prohíbe la remoción forzada permanente de poblaciones civiles. Además, los expertos advierten que trasladar a los residentes de Gaza a entornos desconocidos podría causar inestabilidad a largo plazo y agravar aún más las vulnerabilidades existentes, como la desnutrición y la falta de acceso a agua potable.
Escasez de alimentos y agua
La inseguridad alimentaria sigue siendo uno de los problemas más apremiantes de Gaza. Un informe de la iniciativa Clasificación Integrada de la Seguridad Alimentaria, respaldada por las Naciones Unidas, destacó el riesgo continuo de hambruna en la región. El informe clasificó los niveles de inseguridad alimentaria de Gaza como una “emergencia” y prevé que los casos de desnutrición aguda podrían superar los 60,000 para abril de 2025. Aunque Israel se ha comprometido a aumentar la cantidad de camiones de ayuda que ingresan a Gaza bajo un acuerdo de alto el fuego, las organizaciones humanitarias señalan que la entrega de ayuda se complica por carreteras dañadas y municiones sin detonar.
Food insecurity remains one of Gaza’s most pressing issues. A report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification initiative, backed by the United Nations, highlighted the ongoing risk of famine in the territory. The report classified Gaza’s food insecurity levels as an “emergency” and predicted that acute malnutrition cases could exceed 60,000 by April 2025. Although Israel has pledged to increase the number of aid trucks entering Gaza under a ceasefire agreement, humanitarian organizations note that delivering aid is complicated by damaged roads and unexploded ordnance.
Shakir destacó que aumentar la ayuda y reparar la infraestructura de Gaza debe ser la prioridad inmediata. “Reconstruir los sistemas de agua y electricidad es fundamental,” afirmó. “Mover a las personas a otro lugar no garantiza mejores condiciones y corre el riesgo de replicar los mismos problemas en otro sitio.”
Preocupaciones sobre campos de refugiados a largo plazo
Los detractores de la propuesta de reubicación de Trump han advertido sobre la posible creación de campos de refugiados a largo plazo. Sheline mencionó los comentarios de Jared Kushner, yerno y exasesor principal de Trump, que sugieren la posibilidad de trasladar a los habitantes de Gaza al desierto del Néguev en el sur de Israel. Sheline comparó esta idea con la creación de un campamento de refugiados permanente, señalando que tales condiciones probablemente serían mucho peores que las que existían en Gaza antes de la guerra.
“El problema fundamental no es solo la supervivencia”, afirmó Sheline. “Los palestinos tienen derecho a la autodeterminación y a tener un estado propio. El desplazamiento no aborda esta aspiración esencial y, en cambio, corre el riesgo de dejarlos en el limbo, dependientes de la ayuda y sin un futuro claro”.
“The fundamental issue isn’t just about survival,” Sheline said. “Palestinians have the right to self-determination and a state of their own. Displacement fails to address this fundamental aspiration and instead risks leaving them in limbo, dependent on aid and without a clear future.”
Los expertos coinciden en que la única vía viable para avanzar implica abordar las causas fundamentales de la crisis en Gaza y apoyar a su población dentro del territorio. Esto incluye proporcionar ayuda humanitaria inmediata, reconstruir la infraestructura crítica y garantizar que los palestinos cuenten con los recursos necesarios para recuperarse y reconstruir sus comunidades.
“El verdadero enfoque debe estar en salvar vidas y ofrecer soluciones a largo plazo dentro de Gaza”, enfatizó Shakir. “Esto significa permitir la entrada de profesionales médicos y trabajadores humanitarios en la zona, aumentar las entregas de ayuda e invertir en proyectos que restituyan servicios esenciales como la atención médica, el agua y la electricidad”.
“The real focus has to be on saving lives and providing long-term solutions within Gaza,” Shakir emphasized. “This means allowing medical professionals and humanitarian workers into the area, scaling up aid deliveries, and investing in projects that restore essential services like healthcare, water, and electricity.”
Sheline echoed this sentiment, arguing that displacement would only shift the crisis to a new location without resolving the underlying issues. “It’s not just about meeting basic needs,” she said. “Palestinians deserve the chance to rebuild their homes, their communities, and their futures in their own land.”
Las declaraciones de Trump han recibido una condena generalizada de la comunidad internacional. Organizaciones de derechos humanos y expertos en política exterior han calificado el plan como poco realista e inhumano, advirtiendo que establece un precedente peligroso para abordar crisis humanitarias. Muchos han instado al gobierno estadounidense a centrarse en apoyar los esfuerzos para estabilizar Gaza y abordar las necesidades inmediatas de su población.
Trump’s comments have drawn widespread condemnation from the international community. Human rights organizations and foreign policy experts have called the plan unrealistic and inhumane, warning that it sets a dangerous precedent for addressing humanitarian crises. Many have urged the U.S. government to focus on supporting efforts to stabilize Gaza and address the immediate needs of its population.
Additionally, Trump’s proposal has sparked concerns about the broader implications of forced displacement. Critics argue that such an approach undermines international law and could lead to further instability in an already volatile region.
