Senate does not support Trump's plan for Gaza Strip, hoping for alternative
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (photo: Getty Images)
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham rejected President Donald Trump's proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians from the area. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal is awaiting an alternative plan from Arab states, according to Reuters.
Graham, a longtime ally of Trump and a key Republican in Congress with influence over foreign policy and national security issues, stated that there is little appetite in the Senate for America to take over Gaza in any way, shape, or form.
"The one thing that President Trump has done, he started a discussion that was long overdue," Graham said, noting that Arab states have woken up to seek a better alternative for Gaza.
Blumenthal simply stated that this plan has no chance of success. He mentioned that Jordan's King Abdullah convinced him that Arab states would present a plan encompassing normalization of relations with Israel, Palestinian self-determination, regional defense agreements, and security for Israel.
"If those components are part of a realistic plan, it could be a game changer for the region," he said.
Both lawmakers were part of a bipartisan group of US senators who recently met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv.
Israel's position
Israeli officials have actively supported Trump's proposal. On Sunday, February 16, Netanyahu reiterated his backing for Trump's controversial vision regarding the enclave's future. However, Netanyahu believes that Palestinians in Gaza should have the option to either leave the region or stay.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to draft a plan that would allow Palestinians in Gaza to leave voluntarily. He also announced the establishment of a department within the ministry to oversee the voluntary departure of Palestinians from the enclave.
Officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and Egypt are expected to meet by the end of February to discuss Gaza's future. They aim to develop a counterproposal to Trump’s plan, which has unsettled nearly every Arab capital after 16 months of war in Gaza.
Trump's plan for the Gaza Strip
In early February, US President Donald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Following the meeting, Trump announced plans to deploy American troops to the enclave, finance the reconstruction of the war-torn region, and build several resorts along the Mediterranean coast.
At the same time, the US president proposed temporarily relocating Palestinians from the enclave to Egypt and Jordan during the rebuilding process. However, Trump later stated that Palestinians would not return to Gaza and that they would be provided with better housing elsewhere.
Trump's proposal was widely condemned by Arab officials.
The United Nations equated the plan to ethnic cleansing.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope for an alternative plan for Gaza from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
