SHANGHAI, February 6. /TASS/. The implementation of US President Donald Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip could result not only in a shift in the territory's status but also in a historic regression regarding the resolution of the Palestinian issue, according to Shu Meng, chief editor of the Asian Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Shanghai International Studies University.
"Trump's current plan to assume control of the Gaza Strip is highly unrealistic and will inevitably face strong resistance from all parties involved. This proposal is significantly more radical than previous attempts to address the Palestinian issue. If the US were to implement its plan to take control of Gaza and forcibly relocate the local population, the territory's status would undergo a fundamental transformation. It would no longer be Gaza for the Palestinians; it would lose its place in the Middle East and would not even qualify for international administration," Shu stated.
She characterized Trump's plan as a "historical regression." Moreover, Shu noted that the US has customarily played a central role in mediating peace between Palestine and Israel.
"However, if Trump continues to pursue this unrealistic approach, he will not only fail to facilitate peace between Palestine and Israel, but he will also reverse the progress made in history and exacerbate the already deep-seated tensions between the two parties, making the situation even more volatile," the expert cautioned.
In her view, there is a possibility that Trump's assertions about controlling the Gaza Strip could be merely a rhetorical move. He may intend to leverage this firm stance during negotiations to pressure various parties into accepting a more acceptable, albeit imperfectly just, resolution to the issue.
"Regardless of how they are interpreted, Trump's actions and statements undoubtedly convey extremely negative signals for long-term peace in the Middle East, particularly for the Palestinian people. This plan could not only undermine the momentum of the Palestinian-Israeli peace process but also worsen the Palestinian people's situation concerning their territory, rights, and interests," Shu added.
Trump's Plan
On February 4, US President Donald Trump announced, during a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, plans for the US to reclaim the Gaza Strip and transform it into a "Riviera of the Middle East." Trump also expressed support for relocating Palestinians from the enclave to other countries in the region and indicated that the US was prepared to send troops to the Gaza Strip.