- United States
- Va.
- Letter
I strongly oppose President Trump's proposal to forcibly displace all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and have the U.S. take over and redevelop the territory. This outrageous suggestion goes against long-standing U.S. policy supporting a two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state. It would entrench and enable the alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by Israel's military in Gaza, amounting to ethnic cleansing and potential genocide of the Palestinian people. Rather than seizing Palestinian land and permanently expelling its inhabitants to create a vacation resort, we should pursue a just and peaceful resolution to the conflict that upholds human rights and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. American resources would be better spent addressing pressing domestic needs like alleviating food insecurity and supporting economic opportunity for families struggling with inflation and cost of living increases. Enabling the forced mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians is an extreme violation of international law that would only breed more violence, instability, and hatred in the region. It is an unacceptable proposal that must be forcefully rejected in favor of policies that respect Palestinian rights and work towards a negotiated two-state solution and a just peace.