In a move that sparked outrage and disbelief, the Trump administration reportedly explored a plan to permanently relocate up to 1 million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya, according to multiple sources who spoke to NBC News.
Five individuals familiar with the discussions revealed that the proposal was serious enough to be raised with Libyan officials. In return for accepting the displaced Palestinians, Libya would potentially receive billions of dollars in frozen U.S. funds—assets locked since the early 2000s.
While no agreement was finalized, the proposal was shared with Israeli officials, three sources confirmed.
After NBC News published its report, a spokesperson for the U.S. government denied the claims, stating, “These reports are untrue. The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan. Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense.”
Despite the denial, the idea itself has stirred deep alarm, raising fears of a renewed attempt to erase Palestinian presence from their homeland under the guise of diplomacy.
Hamas official Basem Naim responded firmly: “Palestinians are very rooted in their homeland, very strongly committed… and they are ready to fight up to the end and to sacrifice anything to defend their land, their homeland, their families, and the future of their children.”
He emphasized that Palestinians—and only Palestinians—have the right to determine their own fate: “We are exclusively the only party who have the right to decide for the Palestinians, including Gaza and Gazans, what to do and what not to do.”
The alleged plan, if true, echoes past traumas of forced displacement and rekindles painful memories of the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their homes.
For now, the plan appears shelved—but the fact that it was even considered has left many Palestinians and human rights advocates reeling.
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