The plan includes the forced removal of more than 2 million Palestinians.
Netanyahu made the statement following a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem over the weekend.
Trump sparked global condemnation when he unveiled his proposal, which he calls the "Riviera of the Middle East," suggesting that the US could "buy" Gaza and transform it into a luxury holiday destination.
However, critics argue that the plan is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at ethnic cleansing and an illegal occupation of Palestinian land.
Na'eem Jeenah, a Senior Researcher at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, expressed strong opposition to the plan, describing it as impractical and a flagrant violation of international law.
"Trump claims that 1.5 million Palestinians should be relocated, but in reality, there are over 2.3 million people in Gaza. The plan entails forcibly removing them to third countries such as Jordan and Egypt, and then taking over Gaza to turn it into a holiday resort," Jeenah explained.
"When asked if Palestinians would be allowed to return after this so-called 'Riviera' is built, Trump outright said no. This is a blatant attempt to ethnically cleanse Gaza."
Jeenah added that the plan is unlikely to succeed due to financial constraints, international legal barriers, and the military challenges involved.
"For Israel, this plan aligns with Netanyahu’s agenda of eliminating Hamas and furthering his ambitions in the West Bank. However, implementing it would require American military intervention, and given the resilience of Palestinian resistance, US troops would likely face a disastrous outcome," he said.
The international response to Trump’s plan has been overwhelmingly negative.
"Every Palestinian faction, including the Palestinian Authority, which has often cooperated with Israel, has condemned the plan. Major global powers such as China and European nations have also dismissed it as unrealistic and illegal," Jeenah noted.
Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have rejected any suggestion of taking in displaced Palestinians.
As the war-ravaged enclave struggles under the weight of Israeli bombardment, the question remains: Can Gaza be rebuilt while its residents remain in place?
"The destruction in Gaza is catastrophic. The United Nations estimates that under the best conditions, rebuilding will take 16 years; in a worst-case scenario, it could take up to 80 years. Yet, an alternative plan is being developed by Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates to reconstruct Gaza without removing its people," Jeenah stated.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been a fixture on the global stage, but the scale of destruction in Gaza and the international scrutiny that has followed has marked a turning point.
"The past 15 months have been the most devastating for Palestinians since 1948, what they call the Nakba. This is a full-scale genocide, unlike anything seen before. Hospitals, schools, and entire neighbourhoods have been wiped out," Jeenah asserted.
"However, global attitudes toward Israel are shifting. The International Court of Justice is currently investigating Israel for genocide, and much of the Global South is supporting the case. Even traditional allies in Europe are beginning to question Israel’s actions."
--ChannelAfrica--
