Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator
NBC news reported on a plan devised by U.S. President Donald Trump to relocate about 1 million Gazans to Libya, according to five people close to the plan.
Denials of the plan were issued from various US and Libyan sources, but that doesn’t mean the plan was not real, or might not go ahead. Leaks from Washington, DC. is often a calculated method of determining a plan’s feasibility.
Trump is looking at the situation in Gaza, from the perspective of the people living through a hell on earth experience delivered to them daily by the Israeli military.
The collective hand-wringing of the international community has done nothing to dissuade Israel from killing more and more people, mainly women and children. Trump is thinking out of the box and trying to float plans, which may look absurd, but could alleviate suffering.
Trump’s logic is, if a house is on fire, you get the people out to safety. Intellectual debates on ethnic cleansing and the right of return for Palestinians are not part of the Trump plan.
Libya was attacked, destroyed and occupied by a US-NATO plan for regime change under President Barack Obama in 2011. The regime change part of the plan was successful, but the country has never found peace, security or prosperity, despite being a major oil producer. Iraq suffered the same fate, and after 22 years is still not fully recovered from the American-led occupation.
Libya’s strategic importance and vast oil reserves—producing over a million barrels daily—continue to attract international attention. Despite its oil wealth, Libya’s population faces deteriorating living conditions, with rival factions competing for resource control rather than prioritizing reconstruction or public services.
The reported Trump plan for Gazan relocation to Libya would unlock billions of frozen assets for Libya, in exchange for the Gazans being settled in Libya.
The US-NATO war on Libya has left the country split into two rival governments—the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, and the Government of National Stability (GNS) in Benghazi, with fighting amongst the militias and protesters continuing.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) described the situation as “deeply alarming,” urging an immediate ceasefire to prevent further humanitarian strain.
Would the security situation improve with the promise of the US unlocking billions? Would the two sides find common ground under the Trump plan?
One side in Libya is the Muslim Brotherhood aligned government, while the opposing side is a secular government. Hamas has similar ideology as the Muslim Brotherhood. If the Gazans arrive in Libya, which side will they align with?
Recent reports indicate heightened tensions in Tripoli, where protests have erupted demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah. Several ministers have resigned in response to the unrest, and security forces have clashed with demonstrators. Neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan, have expressed deep concern over the situation, urging restraint and dialogue. The United Nations has also called for calm, warning that the situation could spiral out of control.
Palestinian groups, including Hamas, have strongly rejected any notion of resettlement, emphasizing their commitment to remaining in their homeland. Critics have labeled the plan a form of ethnic cleansing, arguing that forcibly relocating Palestinians would violate international law.
Hamas started the violence, and Israel has fought back in retaliation. Israel’s objective is to eradicate Hamas, and prevent them from ever forming again in Gaza. According to Netanyahu, the military is on the right path, and will achieve their goals. A negotiated settlement has never been part of the Netanyahu plan.
Trump has voiced several visions for Gaza, such as developing it into a resort. From a real estate developer’s perspective, this fits with the real estate concept of the highest and best use of any location. Trump’s ‘Rivera’ plan has great potential for jobs and prosperity, which is tied to peace and security. Later, he said it might be a ‘Free Zone’, but didn’t explain the details of his concept. The Gaza Free Zone should be free of occupation and violence.
Trump could stop the war today, but that would mean dictating to Israel on their domestic policy. Israel receives more aid from the U.S. than any other country, but because of the unique power exerted by AIPAC upon the power bases in the Oval Office and Capitol Hill, the U.S. has never cut off Israel, despite the severe human rights abuses they have carried out, including the accusation of genocide.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is waging war on Hamas, the political authority in Gaza, which was voted into power. The armed wing of Hamas, aided by the militia Islamic Jihad, carried out a surprise attack on Israel October 8, 2023 in which both soldiers and civilians were killed, injured and captured as hostages. Under Islamic law, targeting civilians is prohibited.
The feasibility of such a relocation plan is widely questioned, given Libya’s internal divisions, ongoing conflict, and lack of infrastructure to absorb a large refugee population.
Trump has become increasingly frustrated at Netanyahu’s unwillingness to end the war in Gaza. France, the UK and Canada have come out with threats of sanctions against Israel because of the blockade on food deliveries to Gaza.
The EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on May 20 that Israel has the right to defend itself, but its current actions go beyond proportionate self-defense.
Prior to the current conflict, Gaza received hundreds of trucks daily with food and supplies. Trump has been cutting waste and unnecessary programs in Washington, including USAID which was part of the US State Department and sent food and supplies to Gaza and many other places. Trump has a vision for Gaza which would take it off the charity list, and create income for the residents through businesses tied to tourism.
Time will tell if the Trump plan may come to fruition, or die on the drawing board. One thing is for certain, the people in Gaza need food, medicines and a plan for long lasting peace and prosperity.
Steven Sahiounie is a two-time award-winning journalist.