Donald Trump’s eye-popping plan to make Gaza American
Is his call to evict Palestinians from the “hell hole” an imperial fantasy or a negotiating ploy?
GAZANS HAVE lived through 15 months of war between Hamas and Israel. They have been repeatedly displaced. Tens of thousands have been killed. But they could not have predicted President Donald Trump’s astonishing plan to end their misery: the eviction of all Palestinians and a full American takeover to turn Gaza into the “riviera of the Middle East”.
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This article appeared in the Middle East & Africa section of the print edition under the headline “A deal too far”
From the February 8th 2025 edition
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Israel’s army adopts a high-stakes new strategy: more terrain
It remains present inside Syria, Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank
The sea is swallowing an African island
In Sierra Leone, adjusting to a warmer climate is getting harder
In a dictator’s palace, Syrians debate a new constitution
Ahmed al-Sharaa will soon have to reveal how sincere he is about the new, inclusive Syria
Could political upheaval hit Jordan next?
Resurgent Islamists and chaos in the West Bank may threaten Jordan’s king
Israel and Hamas have something in common
They both want to avoid a ceasefire collapse, for a few more weeks
How to make cash in Africa’s coup belt
Mining multinationals are learning to do business with juntas