Poll: 47% Believe Trump ‘Take Over’ of Gaza is ‘Bad Idea’

Nearly half of Americans rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinians to neighboring countries, calling it a “bad idea,” as did several major Arab, European, and other countries around the world.

According to a CBS News/YouGov poll conducted between Feb. 5 and 7, in which 2,175 US adults were polled and released on Sunday, 47% of Americans believe the US proposal to “take over” Gaza is a “bad idea,” with only 13% supporting it and 40% unsure or saying “it depends.”

The poll also found that 34% of respondents had little or no knowledge of the proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, which has been nearly completely destroyed by brutal Israeli forces since Oct. 7, 2023, killing nearly 48,200 people, the majority of whom are women and children.

On Feb. 4, Trump said Washington would “take over” Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

His proposal was met with wide condemnations from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

During the survey, 46% disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, while the rest approved, “driven largely by Republican support.”

Regarding Trump’s goal in proposing the Gaza plan, 22% believe it is to have the US take over Gaza, 28% believe it is to begin negotiations with Middle Eastern countries, and 29% believe it is both.

The poll also found that Trump has a 53% approval rating, with 70% saying he is keeping campaign promises.

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‘Relocate Israelis to Alaska’ Saudi Official Tells Trump

A member of the Saudi Shura Council has criticized US President Donald Trump’s proposal to move Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, suggesting that relocating Israelis to Alaska and Greenland would be a better solution to Middle East stability.

Trump has suggested relocating Palestinians from Gaza on several occasions, claiming that he will carry out an extraordinary redevelopment plan to transform the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Following Trump’s remarks, which were widely condemned by several major Arab, European, and other countries, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ironically suggested on Thursday that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their own homeland, dismissing any notion of Palestinian sovereignty.

“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” he said.

“If he (Trump) truly wants to be a hero of peace and achieve stability and prosperity for the Middle East, he should relocate his beloved Israelis to the state of Alaska and then to Greenland—after annexing it,” Shura Council member Yousef bin Trad Al-Saadoun said in an article for the Saudi newspaper Okaz on Friday.

He urged Palestinians to remain united, as “the worst is yet to come.”

Trump’s proposal was met with wide condemnations from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

Saadoun also dismissed Netanyahu’s call for establishing a Palestinian state on Saudi territory.

“The Zionists and their allies must realize they will not succeed in dragging the Saudi leadership into media traps and false political pressures,” he said.

The Saudi official further criticized Trump’s decision-making, arguing that poor choices are made by those who “ignore accumulated knowledge and expertise” and refuse to consult specialists.

He also accused Washington of blindly adopting Israel’s methods.

“The official foreign policy of the United States will seek the illegal occupation of sovereign land and the ethnic cleansing of its population—both of which are Israel’s methods and constitute crimes against humanity.”

Riyadh on Sunday strongly condemned Netanyahu’s comments about Palestinian statehood in Saudi Arabia and emphasized the right of the Palestinian people to their land.

The Saudi Shura Council, whose members are appointed by the king, advises on policy and legislation but lacks legislative power, focusing on laws, economic plans, and social policies.

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Arabs Condemn Netanyahu’s Call For Palestinian State in Saudi Arabia

Arab countries strongly condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statements suggesting the establishment of a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia.

In an official statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its “categorical rejection” of such rhetoric, emphasizing that “the Palestinian people have a right to their land, and they are not intruders or immigrants to it who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes.”

The statement said, “This extremist, occupying mentality does not understand what the Palestinian land means to the brotherly people of Palestine,” asserting that Israel “does not think that the Palestinian people deserve to live in the first place.”

The Qatari Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Netanyahu’s statements are “a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant infringement of the United Nations Charter.”

The ministry affirmed Qatar’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and reiterated its “categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the brotherly Palestinian people.”

In a statement, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Sufian al-Qudah said, “The Israeli government continues its provocative policies and statements that undermine the sovereignty of nations and the principles of international law.”

He stressed Jordan’s “absolute rejection of these provocative statements, which reflect an exclusionary and inciting ideology hostile to peace and contribute to further escalation in the region.”

The Foreign Ministry in Muscat, in a statement, reaffirmed “Oman’s firm stance in support of the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on its full sovereign territory in Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the 1967 borders.”

The Bahraini Foreign Ministry, in a statement, expressed the kingdom’s “strong condemnation and denunciation of the irresponsible Israeli statements regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state on Saudi territory,” considering them a “blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.”

The ministry reaffirmed “Bahrain’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its unwavering support for its security, stability, and sovereignty.”

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing its “firm rejection of these remarks, which constitute a blatant violation of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and an attack on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, in addition to contradicting international law and the UN Charter.”

The ministry emphasized “Iraq’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its unwavering stance in supporting the security, stability, and sovereignty of nations.”

The Yemeni government, in a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, condemned Israel’s arrogant and provocative remarks against Saudi Arabia, describing them as “a dangerous escalation that threatens the stability of the entire region.”

The ministry warned that “Israel’s arrogant statements not only target Saudi Arabia but also represent a serious escalation that endangers regional stability as a whole.”

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The Mauritanian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, described the Israeli prime minister’s remarks as “irresponsible,” adding that they “constitute an unacceptable violation of international norms and laws and a provocation that threatens the security and stability of the region.”

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit firmly denounced “in the strongest terms” the Israeli prime minister’s remarks about relocating Palestinians to Saudi Arabia. He emphasized that “the logic behind these statements is completely unacceptable and reflects a total disconnect from reality.”

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jassem Al-Budaiwi stated that “these dangerous and irresponsible statements confirm the approach of the Israeli occupation forces in their lack of respect for international laws and treaties, as well as the sovereignty of nations.”

Palestinian resistance movement Hamas strongly described Netanyahu’s remarks as “hostile toward Saudi Arabia and the Palestinian people, reflecting an arrogant approach and a colonial mindset that disregards the historical rights of the rightful owners of the land.”

On Thursday, Netanyahu suggested that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their own homeland, dismissing any notion of Palestinian sovereignty.

“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” he said.

Earlier, on Feb. 4, US President Donald Trump said Washington would “take over” Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

His proposal was met with wide condemnations from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK as reported in Anadolu.

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Trump, Theater of The Absurd and Gaza

By Dr Khairi Janbek

Evidently US President Donald Trump has raised the stakes very high in his proposed plan to solve the intractable Middle Eastern problem: The Palestinian issue and consequently reaching a wider normalization between the Arab states and Israel.

Of course not only the Arab world but also the rest of the world is learning how to cope with a new American presidency, more accustomed to making deals than in reaching agreements. Consequently the method used concerning the Arab states is that of threats to their national security and integrity with the existential being to their Palestinian brethren.

In scenes reminiscent of a play from the theatre of the absurd, we saw Mr Benjamin Netanyahu’s face light up like a child each time Mr Trump opened his mouth promising him presents which he always sought, although in this case those presents are not the property of Mr Trump and are not his to either have or give away.

Now, one has no wish to go to the distant American history, because the last time American manifest destiny was mentioned, native Americans paid the price with a big genocide and other nations were reduced to mere colonial status by the USA.

However, Trump never mentioned the term explicitly, but whether he realises it or not, the ethnic cleansing he is proposing to solve the problem of the Palestinians to the advantage of Israel is no different to the ethnic cleansing of native Americans. The times are different but the idea is the same.

On the other hand, the acid test for the Palestinian question is in how the world is going to react to these Trump advocated policies. One doesn’t think Russia with its war in Ukraine, at least for the near future, will have much say regarding the Palestinian issue or any other to that effect, while the Chinese, the question of trade war is far more important to them as a system, which puts trade and commerce above politics.

And the EU with the apparent cracks in its unity, it is still unclear what it will do; of course besides amiable legalistic positive rhetoric, will it continue to be the financier of the new American foreign policy, or become the backdoor for US handouts to nations which the United States has claimed will not support?

Ultimately, with the US and Israeli threats of forcible transfer of the Palestinians, it is the Arab states that are in the front line, the close allies of the USA and some of whom peace signatories with Israel.

Of course in the next day or two, the King of Jordan will meet President Trump in Washington, and it is rumored president Sisi will join them, also towards the end of the month, an emergency Arab summit will likely be held in Cairo.

One cannot predict the outcome, but judging from old references, everyone will try to escape responsibility with the Palestinian people keep paying the price.

Dr Khairi Janbek is a Jordanian commentator based in Paris

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