Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip are strongly opposing U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that the United States plans to relocate Gaza residents to neighboring Middle Eastern countries and then take long-term ownership and development of the Gaza Strip, with many saying, "We would rather die here than leave our homeland."
According to the British daily The Guardian and U.S. CNN on the 5th (local time), Palestinians are fiercely opposing Trump's Gaza plan announced the previous day.
Abu Firas (52), a resident from Khan Yunis in the Gaza Strip, told The Guardian, "We would rather die here than leave this land," adding, "No amount of money in the world can replace our homeland."
President Trump said that the Gaza Strip has been devastated by war and that residents would want to leave. However, the majority showed strong attachment to their homeland.
Ramz, who returned to his hometown after the ceasefire, told The Guardian, "No matter where you move, no matter how beautiful the city you live in, peace can only be found in your own hometown."
Walid Almunaya, a resident who became a refugee six times due to the Gaza Strip war, told The Guardian, "We have a famous saying: 'Those who leave their home lose their dignity,'" adding, "We are a resilient people, and forced relocation will never happen, not even in Trump's dreams. We will stay here and will not give up an inch of our land." He then urged President Trump to abandon his real estate development plan. He said, "The solution to the Gaza issue is to separate the two states," and added, "Each should live peacefully apart."
A significant portion of the 2.1 million residents of the Gaza Strip are descendants of Palestinians who were forcibly displaced during the establishment of Israel in 1948. This event is called the 'Nakba (catastrophe)' in the Middle East. CNN reported that, according to dozens of people interviewed across the Gaza Strip, there is a determination not to repeat this despite current hardships.
Iyham Jazouh told CNN that although his house was severely damaged and only one room covered with a temporary roof remains, he has no intention of moving. He asked, "Why do they want to send us to Egypt or Jordan?" and said, "We do not care at all about threats from President Trump or Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu."
Ahmad Safi, who sold vegetables in Khan Yunis, a city heavily damaged by Israeli bombings, told CNN, "We prefer the hell of the Gaza Strip over the paradise of any other country."
CNN cited collective memory of forced displacement as the reason for Gaza residents' strong opposition. Awni Alwadia told CNN, "Such statements have been made before. When Palestinians were relocated during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, they said it was temporary. And they have not been able to return until now," he pointed out.
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