Why does America want to occupy the ruined Gaza, what benefit does Trump see in it?
Just a few weeks ago, US President Donald Trump called Gaza a 'place to be destroyed' and talked about 'cleaning' it completely. Till then it seemed that this was just Trump's old outspoken style, which often remains in the headlines. But now the picture is becoming clear. The things that came out in the conversation in the Oval Office and then in the press conference during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to America shocked the entire world.
Trump has now openly said that America is ready to occupy Gaza. Remember, this is the same Trump who had expressed his intention to buy Greenland and talked about making Panama and Canada a part of America. Now the question arises – is his plan regarding Gaza just another controversial statement, or is there a deep strategy hidden behind it?
What did Trump say?
In his latest statement, Donald Trump has said that Palestinians want to return to Gaza because they have no other option. He described the current condition of Gaza as a "scene of devastation", where almost every building has turned into ruins. Trump suggested that Palestinians should be given a chance to live in peace by settling them somewhere else. He also announced that America will take control of Gaza, defuse the unexploded bombs lying there, rebuild and create thousands of jobs.
According to him, this will be such a change that the entire Middle East will be proud of. However, many people are seeing this statement of Trump as an intention to drive the Palestinians out of Gaza. In the same press conference, he appealed to Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to come forward to settle the Palestinians in their country. But these countries have rejected it outright.
What is the strategy for occupying Gaza?
* Trump wants to keep America's military presence strong in West Asia so that Iran and other opposing forces can be monitored. Trump, a staunch supporter of Israel, will try to strengthen America's role in getting diplomatic recognition for Israel in the region. If the American army remains here, it will give more strength to this objective.
*The Middle East is a hub of energy resources. The Gaza Strip may not have large oil reserves, but stability in the region benefits the US indirectly. This can prove to be important, especially in terms of weakening Iran, Russia and China.
* According to a report in the Times of India, the most bizarre aspect of Trump's recent statement was that he envisioned the reconstruction of Gaza as a tourist and business hub that he described as having the potential to become the "Riviera of the Middle East". Trump has previously been a real estate developer. And this has often influenced his geopolitical thinking. He views even complex diplomatic challenges from the perspective of property deals and economic development. But critics say that his vision completely ignores the deep political, historical and security realities of Gaza.
Use of American troops
Israel's extreme right-wing groups have long been advocating for the permanent settlement of Palestinians elsewhere. On the other hand, former US President Joe Biden had clearly said that he is against the removal of Palestinians from Gaza.
During the press conference, when Donald Trump was asked whether he would use the US military to implement his plan, he replied that if needed, he would not shy away from military action. However, he did not clarify on what legal basis the US could take such a step in Gaza.
Can Trump's plan be implemented?
The simple answer is no. International law strictly prohibits the forced displacement of any population. Gaza has already been home to Palestinians who were displaced or forcibly removed in the wars that followed the creation of Israel. If Donald Trump's plan is implemented, it would mean sending these Palestinians elsewhere in the Arab world or even further away.
This plan will not only completely eliminate the possibility of a "two state solution", but it will also be seen as a 'deportation plan' or 'ethnic cleansing' of the Arab world and Palestinians. This is why Arab countries have completely rejected this idea.
Arab League criticized
On Saturday, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League issued a joint statement criticising the plan. They warned that if the US took such a step, it could threaten the stability of the entire region, further escalating the conflict.
However, under the Geneva Convention, population transfers may be permitted in certain circumstances, such as if there is a serious threat to the safety of civilians or if it is necessary for military reasons. Also, prisoners of war may be taken away from the battlefield and kept in detention centers, but this can only be done on the basis of security or military needs.