By Andrea Tucci,
Trump’s latest statements, in which he reiterated his idea of expelling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and transforming it into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” have outraged Arab media.
Egypt’s position on the matter was made clear by President al-Sisi: “The deportation and displacement of the Palestinian people is an injustice we cannot take part in. If Trump thinks he can force Egyptians to accept the relocation of millions of Palestinians to our country, he is gravely mistaken.” However, such a powerful man, strongly aligned with the Israelis, could present a major opportunity to break the deadlock in negotiations, raising hopes that Egypt might play a more effective and influential role in the region. That said, comparing the Riviera of the Middle East to the French Riviera, as Trump has done, is sheer madness and defies all imagination.
Gaza is Palestinian territory, and changing geography does not change history.
Even if Saudi Arabia were willing to normalize relations with Israel by abandoning the two-state solution, it is unthinkable to believe that lasting peace can be achieved without recognizing the rights of the Palestinian people. Without a doubt, the U.S. president would not have proposed this plan if not for the weakness and fragmentation of Arab positions.
Trump, who claims to want “end wars” in the whole planet, instead lays the groundwork for uniting Western far-right movements with Israeli extremism—forces that, in turn, flow into the pipelines of authoritarian and extremist regimes worldwide.
A striking example is a cartoon published by the Qatari-owned newspaper al-Arabi al-Jadid, which depicts Trump and Netanyahu holding a sign identical in shape to the one that once stood at the entrance of Auschwitz. The sign reads “Trump’s Plan for Gaza”.
What is needed is a large-scale Arab-Palestinian, regional, and international initiative that, first and foremost, accelerates humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza and ensures them a reliable support network for the future. Accepting displaced Palestinians would be the greatest mistake in the history of Egypt and Jordan, placing them in an unforgivable position in the eyes of the Islamic world. Moreover, by absorbing millions of refugees, both countries would descend into instability—playing directly into the hands of Israel and the United States, who would then have a justification to intervene for “security reasons” and occupy parts of their territories. Syria could be forced to cede the Golan Heights and the water-rich Hermon region, the Gulf countries might be pressured into selling energy to Israel, and in the Eastern Mediterranean, the push to deploy more U.S. troops in Cyprus would intensify.
Gaza is at the heart of a civilizational, historical, political, human, and religious conflict—one that does not concern only the Palestinian people but profoundly affects Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
The two-state solution must be revived; otherwise, there will be blood, tears, destruction, and a toxic environment that breeds groups like Hamas.
Once the demolitions are done and the rubble dumped into the sea, the land will be transformed into a manicured paradise; they would plant cypress trees and parasol pines, striped umbrellas and jasmine villas and resorts would rise.There would be ice cream vendors, Mediterranean restaurants, yachts strung with bunting, a festival palace, and an elegant promenade.
Everything all over the bones of children, over mothers with gaping wounds, over the blood and ruins of one of history’s most disproportionate wars.
Bonjour, Gaza, Riviera of the Middle East. Bonjour, Wounded Land!!
