Trump’s proposal to displace Gaza’s population and for a US “takeover” of the Palestinian territory is a “radical plan that violates international law, including the Geneva Conventions,” said Evangeline Cheng, a research associate at the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore.

“It is also an idea that would infuriate Arab populations and allies alike while further damaging American standing in the Middle East at a time when this is already at a low end given the previous administration’s unflinching support for Israel in Gaza,” Cheng told Al Jazeera.

“Trump’s assertion that all Gazans must leave, rather than supporting a post-Hamas governance model, suggests a maximalist approach that aligns closely with Israel’s right-wing position,” Cheng said.

“Even if full evacuation never happens, Trump’s hardline stance could help Israel by making the idea of displacing Gazans seem more normal.”