By Mirna Fahmy

As the Russian-Ukrainian war nears a resolution under U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace deal, the Israeli-Hamas war remains a volatile issue, stirring regional tensions long before the Ukraine conflict reached its final stages.

Trump’s approach to ending the war has been described by some as “aggressive and unconventional,” while others see it as “the best possible solution.”

Since winning the November 2024 U.S. elections, Trump has twice issued ultimatums to Hamas, demanding the release of all Israeli hostages by specific deadlines, warning of severe consequences if his demands were not met. His strategy aimed to pressure Hamas into concessions and accelerate the end of the conflict.

The second ultimatum, which was tied to a ceasefire and the full release of both Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, was not fully honored. The deadline set by Trump—February 15, 2025, at 12:00 PM Israel time—passed without Hamas releasing all hostages. In response, Israel didn’t release Palestinian prisoners, and Trump took to social media to signal his approval, stating that the U.S. would support “any decision Israel makes.”

Trump’s Vision for Gaza: A Radical Redesign

Trump has repeatedly stated that Gaza should not remain inhabited by Palestinians, citing extensive destruction and unexploded ordnance as making the area unfit for human habitation. His proposed long-term solution involves resettling Palestinians in Jordan and Egypt and transforming Gaza into a luxury tourist destination, likening it to “the Riviera of the Middle East.” He also declared that the West Bank is now fully Israeli, cutting off all U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi publicly rejected Trump’s plan. However, Trump invited both leaders to the White House, warning that U.S. aid to their countries could be cut if they did not comply with his directives.

In response, Egypt announced contingency plans to mitigate the impact of any U.S. aid suspension. The Egyptian government  even stepped in to cover financial assistance for students who had relied on USAID funding, which Trump temporarily froze for three months.

Jordan’s Position

Following Trump’s invitation, King Abdullah II met with him at the White House on February 11, 2025, where they discussed the situation in Gaza. Trump reiterated his proposal for Jordan and Egypt to accept displaced Palestinians, but no agreement was reached, as both countries firmly rejected forced relocation.

When asked about allocating Jordanian land to Palestinians, King Abdullah responded, “I will do what is best for my country,” adding that “we must wait for Egypt’s plan regarding Gaza.”

During a press conference, he announced that Jordan would take in 2,000 critically ill Palestinian children, particularly cancer patients, implying that they would be accompanied by their parents.

Saudi Arabia has frequently been mentioned in discussions regarding Gaza’s future. During a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump claimed that Saudi Arabia had not made Palestinian statehood a condition for normalizing relations with Israel. Saudi Arabia, however, countered this assertion, stating that no formal ties with Israel would be established without the creation of a Palestinian state.

Netanyahu responded by suggesting that Saudi Arabia could absorb displaced Palestinians, given its vast desert lands. His remarks sparked backlash across the Arab world, with Egypt leading the opposition, declaring that the Palestinian cause “will not disappear” and that Palestinians “will never be relocated.”

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also issued an official statement reaffirming its commitment to peace and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. The Gulf Cooperation Council echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of a two-state solution and the protection of Palestinian rights.

Egypt’s Plan for Gaza

From the moment Trump announced his vision for Gaza, Egypt has been staunchly opposed. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty conveyed this stance to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stressing that Arab states reject Trump’s plan for Palestinian displacement and the U.S. taking control of Gaza.

Egypt insists that Gaza should be reconstructed with Palestinians remaining in place. Egyptian real estate tycoon Hisham Talaat Moustafa estimated on a local TV program that rebuilding Gaza would cost around $27 billion and take three years, involving 50 contracting companies—contradicting Trump’s claim that reconstruction would require $2 trillion and 15 years.

According to Reuters, Egypt has proposed a plan for governing Gaza post-war. It involves forming a Palestinian administrative body to manage the strip without Hamas involvement while ensuring steps toward a two-state solution. One element of the plan includes building a security buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border to prevent tunnel construction.

Israel’s Reaction: Full Support for Trump’s Plan

Israel has welcomed Trump’s plan, aligning with its long-standing desire to relocate Palestinians elsewhere. During the early days of the war, Netanyahu pressured Egypt to temporarily take in Palestinians in Sinai until Israel could “eliminate Hamas” and secure the release of hostages. In fear that the Palestinian Cause would end, Egypt firmly rejected this, suggesting that Israel could instead relocate them to the Negev Desert.

Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Trump’s proposal, declaring, “This is our true response to October 7. Those who carried out the worst massacre on our land will lose their land forever.”

Netanyahu also spoke highly of the idea, stating:

“The notion of allowing Gazans who want to leave to do so—what’s wrong with that? They can leave and come back, they can relocate and return, but rebuilding Gaza is key. This is the first good idea I’ve heard. It’s a remarkable idea that should be seriously considered, examined, and implemented.”

His remarks, however, directly contradict Trump’s vision, which denies Palestinians any right of return under his Gaza plan.

As part of its support for Israel, the U.S. has now released weapons shipments that were previously withheld under President Joe Biden’s administration. The latest delivery includes over 1,800 munitions, Mk.84 2000-pound bombs, BLU-109 bunker buster warheads, and JDAM kits—enhancing Israel’s capability to either escalate operations in Gaza or target Iran’s nuclear facilities. Many Israeli and American officials have expressed support for using these weapons to launch further military offensives.

Netanyahu has vowed that “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will control Gaza after the war.”

The Fate of Gaza’s Displaced

According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, over 300,000 displaced Palestinians have returned to the northern strip since Israel reopened a humanitarian corridor. Meanwhile, since the war Egypt has received approximately 103,400 injured Palestinians, including 12,300 children. However, thousands remain trapped in Gaza with an uncertain future.

Tarek Heggy, an Egyptian liberal author and political strategist, stated in a televised interview that the fate of the Palestinians ultimately depends on their willingness to accept displacement, asserting that the October 7 attack “killed the two-state solution.”

The October 7 Dilemma: Has the Two-State Solution Collapsed?

Trump’s proposal for Gaza has sparked global condemnation, with many warning that it risks destabilizing the region further. Critics argue that his approach not only disregards Palestinian statehood but also erases decades of diplomatic efforts toward a resolution.

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders denounced Trump’s plan, stating:

“If this is his peace policy, I’d hate to see his war policy.”

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also criticized the proposal, saying:

“Trump’s words effectively nullify U.N. Security Council resolutions that serve as the foundation for Palestinian statehood.”

The October 7 attack by Hamas, which triggered the latest escalation, has profoundly altered global discourse on the Palestinian cause. Many politicians, analysts, and Arab commentators now argue that the attack effectively buried the dream of a Palestinian state. This sentiment has been echoed widely on social media, particularly on platform X (formerly Twitter), where users discuss how the attack reshaped global perceptions of the conflict.

One of the most controversial shifts has been the growing portrayal of Palestinian children as future “terrorists.” Viral videos circulating online show Palestinian school curriculums allegedly promoting anti-Israeli sentiment. This narrative has fueled growing international support for Israel’s aggressive military actions, with some arguing that October 7 was not an isolated event but a sign of a recurring threat.

Some Arab commentators have warned that celebrating the October 7 attack will come at a severe cost for those who align themselves with Hamas. They argue that as long as Hamas controls Gaza, any alternative peace plan is doomed to fail. Hamas, for its part, has made it clear that it will never relinquish control of the strip. Speaking from Qatar, Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan declared that the group intends to maintain its influence—if not overtly, then from the shadows, much like Hezbollah in Lebanon.

At the height of the ongoing debate over Gaza’s future, Trump concluded his stance, stating:

“My plan for Gaza is good, but I am not imposing it—I am merely recommending it.”