Donald Trump Says No Right of Return for Palestinians under His Gaza Takeover Plan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President of the United States asserts that Palestinian residents who leave the under his controversial plan will not be allowed to return.

"We will build a safe community, a little farther from where they are now, away from all this danger. In the meantime, I would own this,” said Trump in an interview with Fox News aired on Monday as quoted by . "Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. No big money spent."

When asked directly whether Palestinian residents would "have the right to return," Trump firmly answered, “No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing."

"In other words, I'm talking about building permanent residences for them, because if they had to return, it would take years before they can be inhabited again," said Trump.

"I'm talking about starting construction, and I think I can make a deal with Jordan, I think I can make a deal with Egypt, you know, we give them billions of dollars every year," he added.

Trump announced his proposal amid a ceasefire that ended a 15-month genocidal war by Israel in Gaza.

His plan to take over Gaza has been widely rejected internationally, but Trump insists on making it happen.

He repeatedly claims that he can force Egypt and Jordan to accommodate Palestinian refugees, a claim openly refuted by both countries and the Palestinian people.

Jordan's King Abdullah II is scheduled to visit the White House this week.

Trump's plan has similarities with a proposal previously put forward by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, in March 2024. At that time, Trump's former advisor referred to properties on the Gaza coast as valuable assets.

"Properties on the Gaza coast could be very valuable if people focus on building livelihoods," said Kushner in an interview at Harvard University.

"The situation there is indeed quite sad, but from Israel's perspective, I will try to move its residents and then tidy it up," he added.

Israel's genocide in Gaza has devastated the region, with half of the homes destroyed or damaged, and nearly 2 million people displaced in minimal sanitary facilities, medical supplies, food, and clean water. Over 48,200 Palestinian residents have died, the majority being women and children.

Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense authority Yoav Gallant for allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in .

In addition, Israel also faces genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

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