Trump Eyes Mass Expulsion of Gazans to Libya, Report

Gaza (Quds News Network)- US President Donald Trump is considering a plan to expel up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya, according to an NBC report. The plan, reportedly based only on leaked information from five anonymous U.S. officials, involves discussions with Libyan authorities. No deal has been reached, and none of the governments involved have issued any comments.

The Trump administration has reportedly offered Libya access to billions of dollars in frozen funds in exchange for accepting expelled Palestinians. Two Libyan governments — one in Tripoli and the other in Benghazi — have not responded to media inquiries.

A spokesperson for the US National Security Council denied the report after its publication, calling it “untrue” and “not discussed.” But NBC’s sources maintain that talks occurred and that Trump views the plan as part of his broader vision for ‘postwar Gaza’.

This isn’t the first time such ideas have surfaced. Earlier reports suggested the Trump administration contacted other countries, including Somalia and Syria, about hosting expelled Palestinians. Those discussions were later described as internal brainstorming, not active negotiations.

Under international law, forced population transfer is considered a war crime and an act of genocide. Human rights experts have condemned the idea. Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, told NBC, “Palestinians are very rooted in their homeland… They are ready to sacrifice anything to defend their land and future.”

Trump has publicly shared his ambition to turn Gaza into what he calls the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He claims that expelling native Palestinians is key to achieving that. In February, he said the US would “own” Gaza and rebuild it.

Some Trump officials reportedly discussed offering financial incentives to ‘encourage’ Palestinians to leave. These could include housing and monthly stipends. But even with incentives, Palestinians are not expected to leave their land.

The Trump administration has also considered Syria, now led by Ahmad Al-Sharaa, as a possible expulsion site. Trump recently lifted sanctions on Syria and met with its new president. But the idea of expelling Palestinians has drawn criticism from both Arab allies and members of the US Congress.

Trump’s plan to ‘own’ Gaza conflicts with international norms and legal obligations as it echoes ethnic cleansing.