Mara-Gaza: “The Palestinians are not a real estate deal”
Part of Donald Trump’s rise to the top of politics can be attributed to his ability to get people talking about him – unfortunately this piece will be doing so too. Trump’s announcement that “the US will take over the Gaza strip” is the newest addition to his series of ridiculous claims and suggestions that have people talking, joining other comments such as the border wall with Mexico, his claim to settle the Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours, and making Canada the 51st US state.
A factor that could persuade, or dissuade, real-estate investors from acquiring a piece of land is its proximity to the sea. Trump, of course, took notice of this in relation to Gaza by pointing out its “fronting on the sea” which would help it become “a great economic development job.” In 2016, Marco Rubio, then a Republican presidential nominee rival, called out Trump and said that “The Palestinians are not a real estate deal.” In 2025, now appointed Secretary of State, Rubio said it was very generous of the US to step in to “become responsible for the reconstruction of that area.”
America loves spending money on defence, so much so that it give countries, like Israel, immense aid to be spent on increasing military capabilities
So, why is America performing the ‘white saviour’ act in the Middle East again, despite being ridiculously unsuccessful with previous projects like Iraq and Afghanistan? Trump gave a fairly humanitarian justification, which was quite surprising given his support for the overhaul of USAID, meaning that assistance to millions of people across the world will be lost. Trump’s descriptions of Gaza include calling it a demolition site, labelling it “hell,” and characterising it as a place of certain death.
Trump is correct in saying that Gaza is a terrible place to live in right now but, one must ask, why is Gaza in such a state? Part of the answer is the man sat next to Trump during his comments, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who can be seen smirking throughout the discussion of Palestinian relocation. Accurate figures as to how many people have been killed, displaced, and injured in Gaza is hard to calculate, but in Mid-December 2024 the United Nations reported that around 45,000 Palestinians had died since October 7, 2023. Some would argue that this death toll is justifiable due to the killing of around 1,200 and further kidnapping of 251 people by Hamas on October 7, however, repeatedly bombing and destroying civilian areas including hospitals and schools, whilst violating various humanitarian laws which has also resulted in the death of foreign aid workers, is not.
The other part of the answer as to why Gaza is in the state that it is currently in, is thanks to Western nations, particularly the US. The US adores spending hundreds of billions on its defence – in 2023, it is reported that $916 billion was spent on the military. America loves spending money on defence, so much so that it give countries, like Israel, immense aid to be spent on increasing military capabilities, which can be done by purchasing American manufactured products. At a time when Trump is fuelling doubt as to whether America will support NATO countries or those in the far east as they should “pay for their own defence”, America’s current agreement with Israel is to give them $3.8 billion annually until 2028, and Trump has not called for Israel to spend on their own defence. America has helped finance Israel’s destruction of Gaza and countless Palestinian lives, enabling Trump to acquire Gaza, which he clearly views as no more than a piece of land, with no regard to the people, just like any wealthy real-estate investor.
Who is financing the reconstruction of Gaza needed after Israel and America have destroyed the region?
In typical Trump fashion, his plans are greatly confusing. One confusing element is, who is the land for? He says that America will take over the region, that 1.8 million Palestinian refugees will be accommodated for in Jordan and or Egypt, that they will be so satisfied with their new homes that they won’t want to return to Gaza, and that no US troops will be used in this venture. Furthermore, who is financing the reconstruction of Gaza needed after Israel and America have destroyed the region? Netanyahu says it should be the job of the Arab and Gulf countries, giving them the chance to show their care and affection for Gaza. He stated that the international community should “allow them to leave” and to not see it as “forcible eviction,” in reference to the 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza who would leave according to Trump’s plans. This sort of language is reminiscent of language used by Daniella Weiss, who the BBC described as the “grandmother of Israel’s settler movement,” claiming that Palestinians wanted to leave Gaza. Additionally, as far back as late March 2024, she claimed to have a list of 500 Israeli families ready to settle in Gaza. This list would surely only grow if the Palestinians left. A group called the Nachala movement, according to their website, aims to “enhance settlement in Judea and Samaria and educational Zionist goals.” Shortly after Trump’s announcement, this group tweeted that if Trump’s plans went ahead, “we must hurry and establish settlements throughout the Gaza strip” because “if an area remains desolate, it may be captured by our enemies.”
Ultimately, I fear that Trump’s outlandish claim that the US will occupy Gaza, as if it were an office building in New York, is merely a front or a legalisation for continued Israeli settlement and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians as Zionists are given a clear passage to settle in the land that they believe was promised to them by higher powers.
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