Hamas has welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s withdrawal from the plan for the mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. Trump had initially suggested the removal of the Palestinian population from the war-torn territory but later stated that no one was being expelled from Gaza.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem appreciated Trump’s reversal of the proposal to permanently relocate more than two million Palestinians from Gaza.
According to Al Jazeera, Hamas’s statement came after Trump, during a White House meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin on Wednesday, clarified that no one was being removed from Gaza.
Qassem stated that if Trump’s remarks signify a retreat from any plans to expel Gaza’s residents, Hamas considers it a positive step. He urged support for this stance to ensure that Israel complies with all ceasefire agreements.
Trump had sparked widespread reactions across the Middle East and beyond last month when he proposed U.S. control over Gaza and the relocation of its Palestinian population to neighboring countries.
His retreat followed a meeting in Qatar on Wednesday, where Arab foreign ministers discussed Gaza’s reconstruction with U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Representatives from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Palestinian Liberation Movement’s Secretary-General attended the meeting, discussing the reconstruction plan approved at the Arab League summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025.
Arab foreign ministers emphasized the need for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza and called for serious efforts toward a fair and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally endorsed the Arab League’s plan for Gaza during an emergency meeting in Saudi Arabia. The plan, led by Egypt, proposed reconstructing the Gaza Strip under the administration of the Palestinian Authority. It was put forward as a countermeasure to Trump’s earlier threats of taking control of Gaza and displacing its residents.
