A new report has revealed that the administration of US President Donald Trump considered a proposal to permanently relocate up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya.
According to NBC News, which cited sources familiar with the matter, the idea was under “serious consideration” and involved discussions with Libyan authorities. The report suggested that Washington might offer the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets—held since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, in exchange for accepting Palestinian refugees from Gaza.
While no final agreement was reached, Israeli officials were reportedly made aware of the deliberations, NBC said.
A U.S. official, however, dismissed the claim as “untrue,” telling NBC News: “The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan. Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense.”
Hamas, which governs Gaza and is designated a terrorist group by the U.S., said it had no knowledge of any such discussions. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim stressed that Palestinians remain steadfastly committed to their homeland.
“Palestinians are deeply rooted in their land and are prepared to defend it at all costs,” Naim said, adding that only Palestinians themselves have the authority to determine their future.
Earlier this year, U.S. media reported that Trump—who returned to office in January—had floated plans to transfer migrants to third countries, including Libya. However, Libya’s Government of National Unity denied any coordination with Washington on the issue and said it opposed using its territory for such purposes without prior consultation.
Throughout his presidency, Trump repeatedly proposed relocating Gazans to neighboring Arab countries such as Egypt and Jordan—an idea rejected by both Arab governments and Palestinian leaders.
In February, he reportedly suggested that the U.S. could seize control of Gaza and relocate approximately two million Palestinians to other nations in the region, dubbing the vision the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Background to the conflict
Israel captured the Gaza Strip in 1967 and maintained a military presence there until its unilateral withdrawal in 2005. Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and seized full control of Gaza in 2007, leading to years of blockade and recurrent conflict with Israel.
The current war—the deadliest to date—was triggered by a Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
Israel’s military response has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to health authorities in Gaza, and displaced nearly two million people.
Source: NBC News
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