J Street Horrified by Trump’s Proposal for US-Backed Ethnic Cleansing in Gaza, J Street
J Street strongly condemns President Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and forcibly displace two million residents, calling it an act of ethnic cleansing disguised as real estate development and a grave violation of US and international law. President Jeremy Ben-Ami warns that Trump’s reckless rhetoric not only endangers a fragile ceasefire and the lives of hostages still held by Hamas but also provides cover for right-wing forces seeking to reignite war, escalate violence, and undermine democratic values in both the US and Israel.
US Jewish Groups Respond to Trump’s Gaza Comments, The Forward
“J Street cannot express strongly enough opposition to the ideas being put forward by President Trump regarding Gaza. There aren’t adequate words to express our disgust at the idea of forcible displacement of Palestinians with the assistance of the United States of America,” Ben-Ami said in a statement. “We call on leaders around the world, political leaders in this country and, of course, Jewish communal leaders in this country to express in no uncertain terms that these proposals are absolutely unacceptable – legally and morally,” he added.
The Real Threat to American Jewry Is Politicians, Not Activists, The Jerusalem Post
Former legislative director at AIPAC Douglas Bloomfield writes about the silence of many establishment Jewish groups in the face of Elon and Trump’s extremism. “J Street has expressed alarm about the rise of right-wing extremism in the administration and the Congress. New Jewish Narrative (former Americans for Peace Now and Ameinu) condemned the foreign aid freeze as a ‘reckless’ move that ‘undermines both America’s moral leadership and its strategic interests.’”
Establishment US Jewish Organizations Mum on Trump’s Gaza Plan, Religion News Service
J Street, the liberal American Jewish organization dedicated to a two-state solution, was also quick to issue a statement of outrage.“There aren’t adequate words to express our disgust at the idea of forcible displacement of Palestinians with the assistance of the United States of America,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben Ami.
Trump’s Gaza Relocation Plan Signals Shift in Jewish Political Influence, The Forward
“Unsurprisingly, the Jewish Democratic Council of America and the left-leaning group J Street were quick to roundly condemn the plan Trump unveiled at a Tuesday evening news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.”
[Watch] Emergency Briefing: Trump’s Horrific Vision for Gaza, J Street
Following Trump’s outrageous proposal that the US take over Gaza and force out its two million residents, J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami sat down with Israeli political correspondent Tal Shalev and Frank Lowenstein, former Envoy for Israeli-Palestinian Negotiations.
Israel Defense Minister Tells Army To Prepare To Relocate Palestinians From Gaza, NPR
Israel’s defense minister Israel Katz is telling the military to prepare to implement President Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Katz says the military should prepare exit options by land, sea and air so that anyone who wishes to can leave for “any country willing to accept them.”
‘I Won’t Leave. Put That in Your Brain.’ Palestinians Reject Trump’s Call To Expel Them From Gaza, AP
Palestinians have shown a powerful determination to return to their homes after nearly the entire population was displaced by the war. Joyous crowds streamed back to northern Gaza and Rafah, both of which were devastated by Israeli bombardment and ground offensives. “We remain here, even if it means living in the rubble of our homes — better that than living in humiliation elsewhere,” said Ibrahim Abu Rizk, who returned to Rafah to find his home in ruins.
Beneath Trump’s Plan for Gaza, Painful Echoes of Forced Displacement, The New York Times
Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Erika Solomon write, “Despite Mr. Trump’s argument that Palestinians would welcome the chance to live in another place, Palestinians provided a reminder of their commitment to rebuilding their homes after the most recent cease-fire was reached. Thousands set out on foot back to northern Gaza, picking their way through mounds of rubble and debris. For months, they had heard Israeli calls to settle the north of Gaza with Israeli civilians. Instead, they would return to their homes, or whatever was left of them.”
Trump Doubles Down on Kicking Palestinians out of Gaza, Politico
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated Thursday that Palestinians should be removed from Gaza after Israel’s war on the coastal enclave is done. Trump called the project “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth,” which he claimed would not require any U.S. military presence.
Netanyahu Calls Trump’s Plan to Transfer Gazans ‘Remarkable’ and ‘First Good Idea I’ve Heard’, Haaretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to transfer Gaza’s population to other countries, calling it a “remarkable idea” and the “the first good idea I’ve heard.” Netanyahu did however reject the idea of U.S. troops being deployed to take control of Gaza, or Washington funding the reconstruction of the strip.
Israel Withdraws From UN Human Rights Council, Foreign Minister Says, Reuters
Israel has informed the United Nations Human Rights Council that it will follow the United States in withdrawing its participation, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Thursday. “The decision was reached in light of the ongoing and unrelenting institutional bias against Israel in the Human Rights Council, which has been persistent since its inception in 2006,” he said in a letter to UNHRC President Jorg Lauber which he posted on the social media platform X.
Arab Nations Reject Trump’s Call to Relocate Gazans to Neighboring Countries, CNN
The foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt issued a wide-ranging statement Saturday, saying they hoped to work with Trump on a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Trump Aides Defend Gaza Takeover Proposal but Walk Back Some Elements, Reuters
A longtime New York property developer, Trump drew rebukes on Wednesday from world powers Russia, China and Germany, which said it would foster “new suffering and new hatred.” Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia rejected the proposal outright.
Trump’s Gaza Plan Has Stunned the Region. Here’s a Look at the Serious Obstacles It Faces, AP
Joseph Krauss writes, “During his first term, Trump flirted with the possibility of Israel annexing parts of the occupied West Bank before the idea was shelved as part of a normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Trump could ultimately pare down his proposal or put it on hold in exchange for concessions from Arab leaders, perhaps on Gaza’s reconstruction or on normalization with Israel — though the Saudi statement appeared to rule that out.”
From Hostages to US Takeover: Trump Moved the Gaza Goalposts and Gifted Netanyahu a Political Lifeline, Haaretz
Ben Samuels writes, “Trump’s new proposal is not the carte blanche for the Israeli resettlement of Gaza that the Israeli right believes it is. In fact, he explicitly said that he doesn’t necessarily support Israel’s territorial grab, a fact that seems to be lost among its supporters. Whether or not Trump will seriously spend political capital on this issue with the likes of Egypt and Jordan, as well as other unnamed countries, remains to be seen.”