Could Donald Trump’s plan to build a Riviera in Gaza spark conflict in the Middle East?

Donald Trump’s plan to ‘ethnically cleanse’ Palestinians from Gaza to build a ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ has been described as a ‘recipe for chaos’ in an already destabilised region.

Even Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked surprised – but then delighted – as the US president told reporters at the White House about his proposal to permanently ‘resettle’ 1.8 million people.

‘It’s their home, sir!’ a journalist can be heard in the background. Nowhere has the backlash been more forceful than in the Middle East.

It is not the first time in recent days that the Republican has flaunted such a ‘ridiculous and absurd’ plan that reconsiders the future of an independent Palestinian state.

Does Trump risk an all-out war in the region? Where would Palestinians be resettled? Does his plan endanger the ceasefire in Gaza?

These are some of the questions Metro asked Middle East experts Hugh Lovatt and Baraa Shaiban.

Why does Trump want Gaza? Key takeaways from his plan

In his first major Middle East policy announcement, Trump declared that the US should seize control of Gaza and permanently remove PalestiniansEgypt and Jordan.

He said he envisioned building the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’, a sort of a resort which would offer ‘unlimited numbers of jobs and housing’ for international communities.

The US president said he envisioned a ‘long-term’ ownership of the territory but he did not explain how and under what authority he can take over the land of Gaza.

‘We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,’ he said.

Is the US president’s plan actually feasible?

Hugh Lovatt, from the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that the policy is ‘unlikely to be implemented’ due to the strong opposition of both Jordan and Egypt.

‘The two countries would have to deal with the potential implications,’ he warned. ‘They would not be able to handle so many Palestinians.

‘Such displacement would impose an extraordinary stress on the already fragile economies of Jordan and Egypt, for one. They are struggling with unemployment.

‘Britain has its own issue with migration. Imagine the reaction we would have with 1.8 million people arriving at our borders.

‘Egypt is also far from democratic, but it is sensitive to the opinion of the public, particularly on this issue. Neither nation would want to be seen as supporting a plan viewed by Arabs as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. It is a red line for Jordan and Egypt.’

No matter how much pressure Trump tries to impose on the two nations with the potential withdrawal of US aid, they would not agree to his plan, Baraa Shaiban explained.

‘Arab nations are already under huge pressure from their people that they have not opposed the war strongly enough,’ he said.

Lovatt agreed that Trump may deploy his usual ‘bullying’ tactics and end financial and military support to twist Egypt and Jordan’s arms.

Both experts agreed that this on its own would create further tensions in the region and destabilise it.

How have Middle East nations responded?

Both Egypt and Jordan have condemned Trump’s plans and rejected his suggestion that they take in as many as 1.8 million Palestinian refugees.

Saudi Arabia issued an overnight statement rejecting the idea of transfer and reiterating that it will not normalise relations with Israel – a key goal of the Trump administration – without the establishment of a Palestinian state including Gaza.

The proposal also risks undermining the ceasefire in Gaza and release of hostages.

Could this spark a wider war in the region?

Shaiban, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) analyst, does not see an all-out war engulfing the Middle East over Trump’s plan.

‘To begin with, I was quite surprised that the president re-emphasised this narrative,’ he said.

‘Realistically, I also do not think that either Jordan or Egypt would attack Israel over the plan. Israel has a huge US military backing.

‘As we have seen, it can sustain a military conflict. Much more than Jordan and Egypt even put together.

‘This won’t result in an all-out war, but it would cause a lot of tension that could push Hamas to come to the forefront again.’

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