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Not so young anymore.'s avatar

Hi Jill, I appreciate you have been working hard to stand up for Israel in a left wing crowd and this is a thankless task. Trumps ‘plan’ is really weird … but it does bring up some internal contradictions in the pro Hamas side

1) the propaganda states that the Gazans are truly refugees of the 4th generation from what is now Israel since 1948. They claim the people they murdered on October 7 were ‘settlers’. Gaza is a big refugee camp for these genetic refugees. If so, why can’t they be refugees in a nicer environment? Ismail Haniyeh and his 7 wives lived quite well in Doha until his fateful trip to Tehran.

Is it ‘imperialist’ to move these people out of the refugee camp?

Are they really Gazans or are they genetic refugees?

2) why is the border of Egypt always closed to them? Why won’t Arab countries take the people who would like to leave? Don’t other countries take refugees from a war zone? Why is it ethnic cleansing? Isn’t this a bit hypocritical? If there is no forced exodus then it’s no different than other groups leaving a war zone.

3). Why does the UN through UNWRA perpetuate the generational refugee status at all? (Related but not the same question)

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Noah Otte's avatar

I don’t think Donald Trump was ever seriously considering having the United States occupy Gaza. I think this was all a ploy to get Egypt and Jordan to accept Gazan refugees. But nonetheless you are correct Jill that it is highly unlikely this plan would’ve worked. It most likely never would’ve gotten the public or Congressional support needed to make it happen. As I understand it however, Gazan refugees being resettled in Egypt or Jordan would be voluntary. So it wouldn’t be ethnic cleansing. Nonetheless you’re right Jill that the situation at the moment is quite tense. The war for now is over, but Hamas remains in power and 76 innocent people including 2 babies remain held in Gaza captive. The war could restart at anytime. What is the answer for postwar Gaza? What vision do the people of Gaza have for its future? What is to be done about Hamas? These are all crucial questions that need to be answered and fast. Hamas definitely should not be the picture of the postwar governing of Gaza. To me the most realistic and best idea would be an occupation and administration by the Gulf States; Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain who are friendly with Israel but whom the Gazans would trust as fellow Arabs and Muslims. Israel would feel secure on its Southern border and they could take care of any remnants of Hamas still running around out there. To be sure Benjamin Netanyahu and the current governing coalition in Israel loved what Trump was advocating for. I’m glad Israel will have no part in the governing of Gaza in the future nor will IDF boots be on the ground. 1) That would easily trigger a Third Intifada. 2) I’d be worried that Bibi and his cronies would encourage Jewish settlers resettling Gaza. 3) Israel renounced all claims to Gaza when they pulled out in 2005. There’s no doubt he’s under fire in Israel right now with both the Israeli press and public and rightly so. He has been the worst PM in Israel’s by far and it’s not even close. I’d argue the man is a quasi-dictator. He, Likud and their far-right allies have ignored Israel’s democratic institutions, enacted authoritarian laws, allowed October 7th to happen by not properly reinforcing the Gaza border, and are a barrier to peace in the region between Israel and the Palestinians. I think it is crucial Bibi and his government be voted out of office or pressured by the public into resigning. If Netanyahu stays PM and his messianic and Kahanist government stay in power, Israel will become an authoritarian and theocratic state. Not to mention the blatant racism, Islamophobia and fanaticism of those like Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. With them in charge Israel’s non-Jewish minorities and Palestinians are in grave danger and could lose their rights.

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