US and Israel plan to resettle Gazans in Syria

Israel and the United States are reportedly working on a plan to relocate the two million residents of Gaza to Syria. This information comes from CBS News, which cited sources familiar with the situation. The plan follows a proposal by former President Donald Trump to take control of Gaza and focus on rebuilding the area. Nearly 450,000 Palestinian refugees already live in Syria, according to the United Nations. Israel occupies a buffer zone near the Syrian border and regularly conducts military strikes in the area. Syria's interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, has condemned these strikes but has not threatened Israeli forces directly. Reports indicate that the Trump administration and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also contacted governments in Sudan and Somalia to discuss relocating Gazans. Officials from the US and Israel have even reached out to the breakaway region of Somaliland. The idea for resettling Gazans outside their territory has faced backlash from many Arab allies of the US, prompting Egypt to propose its own plan. Egypt's plan suggests a temporary governing body to manage Gaza before handing control back to the Palestinian Authority. Unlike Trump’s idea, it does not include resettling Gazans. Despite initial resistance, the US has shown some flexibility. Recently, Trump stated that his Gaza plan would not involve expelling residents. The conflict in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, with a major attack by Hamas that led to significant casualties and destruction, highlighting the need for a thorough reconstruction effort.