The administration of President Donald Trump is considering a highly controversial plan with potentially destabilizing consequences: the permanent resettlement of up to one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip in Libya.
This was revealed by an investigation from NBC News, citing five individuals with direct knowledge of the matter, some of whom are former U.S. officials.
According to the American network NBC, the project was evaluated with enough seriousness for the Trump administration to discuss it directly with Libyan leaders.
Two sources with direct knowledge of the plan and a former U.S. official confirmed that discussions took place with both factions of the Libyan government.
The plan has not been formalized nor has a definitive agreement been reached, but the aforementioned media outlet indicates that Israel was kept informed of the discussions.
Additionally, three individuals indicated that, in exchange for the mass resettlement of Palestinians, the United States would release "billions of dollars in funds that have been frozen for over a decade."
Rejection by Hamas and the Palestinian Authority
The plan has been condemned from the Palestinian territories.
Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, stated to NBC News that the organization was not aware of any discussions regarding the relocation of Palestinians to Libya. In his words:
"Palestinians are deeply rooted in their homeland, fully committed to it, and are willing to fight until the end and sacrifice everything to defend their land, their nation, their families, and the future of their children."
Naim emphasized that only the Palestinians themselves have the right to determine their destiny
"[The Palestinians] are the only ones who have the right to decide for the Palestinians, including Gaza and its residents, what to do and what not to do."
The rejection was also emphatic from the Palestinian National Authority. In a statement from Moscow, President Mahmoud Abbas described as "unacceptable" any attempt at mass resettlement outside Palestinian territory.
"We oppose the displacement of Palestinians from Palestine. We would not like to see a 'Middle Eastern Riviera' created in the Gaza Strip. That plan is unacceptable, which is why we have rejected it and cannot accept it," he said.
A country in crisis as a destination
Libya, devastated by nearly 14 years of internal conflict since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, is now a country divided between two rival governments: one in the west, led by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, and the other in the east, under the command of General Khalifa Haftar.
Both have been involved in armed confrontations and maintain a precarious governance.
The U.S. Department of State currently warns its citizens against any travel to Libya, citing “crime, terrorism, unexploded landmines, civil unrest, kidnappings, and armed conflict.”
Neither Dbeibah's government nor Haftar's Libyan National Army responded to requests for comments from NBC News.
Logistical and economic obstacles
It is still unknown how many Palestinians would voluntarily agree to move to Libya.
According to the former U.S. official cited by NBC, the administration had considered offering financial incentives such as “free housing and even a stipend” to facilitate relocation.
However, the obstacles are numerous.
From a logistical standpoint, transporting a million people from Gaza to Libya would be a monumental challenge.
According to an estimate by the agency EFE, more than 1,100 flights of the Airbus A380, the largest passenger aircraft in the world, would be needed to complete the transfer.
Since Gaza does not have an operational airport, people would have to be transferred by land or sea to another point in the region, possibly Cairo, in Egypt.
Land transportation would involve covering over 1,800 kilometers through potentially unstable areas, while using ferries would require hundreds of additional trips.
Financially, the project would be "extremely expensive," according to sources.
It is unclear where the funds to finance it would come from, although the Trump administration had previously indicated that Arab countries might assist in the reconstruction of Gaza following a potential war.
However, those nations have expressed their opposition to the permanent resettlement of Palestinians outside their territory.
Demographic impact and political tension
The latest public estimate from the CIA places the population of Libya at around 7.36 million people.
The arrival of one million Palestinians would represent a demographic increase of 13%, which in comparative terms would be equivalent to the United States absorbing approximately 46 million additional people.
An effort of that magnitude would generate immense pressure on the already fragile infrastructure of the North African country, which is unable to adequately supply its current population.
An idea among many controversies
NBC News also revealed that in recent weeks, the Trump administration had considered Libya as a possible destination for immigrants they sought to deport from the United States. However, those plans were halted by a federal judge.
Although the resettlement plan for Palestinians has not been officially confirmed, nor does it seem viable in the short term, its mere discussion has sparked a wave of reactions that reflect the ongoing tension surrounding the future of Gaza.
I dispute "buying" and "owning" Gaza
The allegedTransfer of one million Palestinians to Libya comes three months after Trump expressed his desire to "buy" Gaza and own it.
"I am committed to buying and owning Gaza. Regarding its reconstruction, we can give parts of it to other states in the Middle East to rebuild," the president stated aboard Air Force One while traveling to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl in February.
"Other people may do it, under our sponsorship. But we are determined to own it, take charge of it, and ensure that Hamas does not return," he added then.
Trump's statements were met with enthusiasm by the Israeli far-right, which advocates for the expulsion of Palestinians, but generated widespread rejection in the international community, especially among Arab countries.
Frequently Asked Questions about Donald Trump's Plan to Relocate Palestinians to Libya
What is Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Libya?
The Trump plan involves the permanent resettlement of up to one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya. This project was discussed with enough seriousness by the Trump administration and was even proposed to Libyan leaders. In exchange for the massive resettlement, billions of dollars in funds that have been frozen for over a decade would be released.
What has been Palestine's response to Trump's plan?
Both Hamas and the Palestinian National Authority have firmly rejected the plan. Basem Naim, a senior official from Hamas, emphasized that the Palestinians are deeply rooted in their homeland and are the only ones entitled to determine their own destiny. President Mahmoud Abbas also deemed any attempt at resettlement outside of Palestinian territory as "unacceptable."
Why has Libya been considered a destination for Palestinians?
Libya was considered as a possible destination due to its status as a country that has been in conflict since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, and it has precarious governance. The Trump administration discussed this plan with both factions of the Libyan government, although no formal agreement has been reached. However, the mass relocation would pose a significant logistical and economic challenge.
What difficulties does the plan to relocate Palestinians to Libya face?
The plan faces numerous logistical and financial obstacles. Transporting a million people from Gaza to Libya would be a monumental challenge, requiring over 1,100 Airbus A380 flights, as Gaza does not have an operational airport. Moreover, the project would be extremely costly, and it is unclear where the necessary funds would come from, although it has been suggested that Arab countries could assist in the reconstruction of Gaza.
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