In a bombshell revelation that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, former US President Donald Trump is reported to have advocated for a deeply controversial solution to the Gaza conflict during a private conversation with a senior British politician.
The discussion, which took place with Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, involved Trump suggesting that Israel should effectively empty the Gaza Strip of its Palestinian population and resettle the territory with Israelis.
The Leaked Conversation
According to sources familiar with the matter, Trump bluntly stated that Israel needed to "finish the problem" in Gaza. His proposed method involved moving Palestinians out of the territory and simultaneously encouraging Israeli settlers to move in—a suggestion that would constitute a drastic alteration of the region's demographic and political landscape.
Sir Ed Davey, taken aback by the proposal, immediately pushed back against the idea. He emphasised the critical importance of adhering to international law and warned that such actions would be fundamentally wrong.
Broader Pattern of Controversial Views
This is not an isolated incident in Trump's commentary on the conflict. The report suggests this aligns with a pattern of similar opinions he has expressed to other Western figures.
Most notably, Trump is said to have floated the same concept to former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. In that conversation, he reportedly asked why Israel didn't simply "move the Palestinians out of Gaza" and bring in Israeli settlers, framing it as a straightforward resolution to the ongoing violence.
Furthermore, US Senator Marco Rubio also appears to have been privy to Trump's thoughts on the matter. Rubio reportedly confirmed that Trump had expressed the view that getting Palestinians "out of Gaza" would be a necessary step for Israel to achieve its military objectives.
International Law and Widespread Condemnation
Such proposals are in direct violation of international humanitarian law. Forcibly displacing a protected population from occupied territory is strictly prohibited under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
The mere discussion of these ideas at such a high level has alarmed human rights organisations and foreign policy experts. It raises profound concerns about the potential direction of US foreign policy should Trump return to power and the precedent it would set for conflict resolution.
The leak of these private conversations underscores the deep unease among Western leaders regarding Trump's approach to one of the world's most intractable and sensitive conflicts.
