Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun 
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. (©AP via Kyodo)
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The international community reacted with shock and resistance to United States President Donald Trump's recent remarks regarding Palestinian-controlled Gaza. Nevertheless, some elements in his proposal merit careful consideration. We hope the Trump administration will provide more details about the plan.
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Trump declared that the US would assume long-term ownership of Gaza. He also explained that it would be developed into a place where Palestinians and people from around the world could gather together.
Gaza is in ruins after a months-long battle between the Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas and the Israeli military, sparked by a large-scale surprise attack by Hamas on Israel.
Hamas effectively exercised control over Gaza and used residents as human shields during the conflict. More than 47,000 residents are believed to have died out of a Gaza population of over two million. Gaza residents must now be allowed to rebuild their lives as quickly as possible.
Building a Better Gaza
If by "ownership" Trump means actual possession, then that is something that should not happen. What will happen to Gaza residents? Some critics claim that Trump's proposal would in effect permanently relocate the Palestinians living there through the use of force.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has explained that the relocation of the residents would only be temporary while Gaza is reconstructed. By "ownership," he explained that Trump meant to express the willingness of the US to take leadership responsibility in the reconstruction. A White House spokesperson in turn stated that the plan is designed to allow people to live in peace.
The forced relocation of Gaza residents to another area without anticipating their eventual return is out of the question. However, it is worth considering temporarily moving residents outside the area to facilitate the reconstruction process.
On the Ground in Gaza
Just think about the actual situation. The savage fighting has turned Gaza into a mountain of rubble. It would be extremely difficult to remove unexploded ordnance, dispose of the rubble, and rebuild Gaza's cities if the entire population remained in place.
Gaza residents continue to live in miserable conditions. Moreover, Hamas built an intricate network of tunnels beneath the surface of Gaza. No doubt, there are huge stores of weapons and ammunition hidden within them.
If it could be arranged for Gaza residents to live temporarily outside the region, it would be possible to disarm Hamas. Furthermore, innocent civilians could be separated from Hamas militants. For that reason, Hamas and its supporters can be expected to fiercely oppose such temporary relocation to another area.
However, if the reconstruction of Gaza is undertaken haphazardly, it could once again become a base for Hamas fighters. And if Hamas were to go to war with Israel sometime in the future, Gaza could once again be reduced to a pile of rubble.
Granted that Trump's remarks have been vague. Also, it is unclear whether any countries would temporarily accept the residents of Gaza. If not, this would be a difficult proposal to implement. Nonetheless, it is an idea that should be carefully considered.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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