US President Donald Trump's proposal to turn Gaza into US territory and forcibly remove Palestinians from their land has sparked serious debate in terms of international law and human rights. This illegal step, which many experts have described as the Second Balfour Declaration, was strongly rejected by the Gulf countries in particular and assessed as "ethnic cleansing". Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other Gulf countries stressed that Trump's proposal violates international law and threatens regional stability.
Saudi Arabia opposed Trump’s plan, stating that the normalization process with Israel could not proceed without the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Saudi Arabia’s stance was in line with its traditional policy of maintaining balances in the region and defending the rights of the Palestinian people. Qatar similarly defended the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and stated that plans for forced displacement were unacceptable. Kuwait and Oman, on the other hand, stated that Trump’s plan posed a threat to regional stability and violated the rights of the Palestinians. Although the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain were criticized for betraying the Palestinian cause by normalizing with Israel in 2020, they did not support Trump’s Gaza plan. Bahrain rejected the forced displacement of Palestinians, while the UAE used diplomatic language to emphasize that “regional peace and stability are a priority.”
The most vocal statement in the Gulf was made by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia’s former intelligence chief Prince Turki Faisal heavily criticized Trump’s plan in his statements at the Munich Security Summit. Prince Turki stated that Trump’s proposal “will not be accepted anywhere” and instead proposed a US-led “Marshall Plan” for the reconstruction of Gaza. Citing the reconstruction of Europe after World War II as an example, Prince Turki opposed the displacement of the people of Gaza and emphasized that the Palestinians should remain in their own lands. Prince Turki stated that Trump’s plan was against international law and ignored the Palestinians’ right to return to their historical lands such as Haifa and Jaffa. He also criticized Washington’s stance by emphasizing that the US’s military support for Israel has increased the losses suffered by Palestinians. Prince Turki stated that comprehensive solutions such as the Arab Peace Initiative, put forward by Saudi King Abdullah in 2002, are more appropriate for achieving regional peace.
While opposing Trump’s plan, the Gulf countries also took into account domestic political balances and obligations under international law. In particular, Saudi Arabia’s assertion of the condition of establishing an independent Palestinian state in the normalization process with Israel can be considered as a reflection of its efforts to maintain balances in the region. However, it remains unclear how long the Riyadh administration can withstand Trump’s pressure and what kind of stance it will take in the future.
Another important factor behind the Gulf countries’ opposition to Trump’s plan is the preservation of regional stability and the maintenance of the legitimacy of the Palestinian cause in the international arena. The reconstruction of Gaza and the establishment of a lasting peace in the region are among the priority goals for the Gulf countries. However, concerns that Trump’s plan could undermine these goals are making the Gulf countries’ reactions even harsher.
As a result, Trump’s Gaza plan is considered to be an initiative that violates international law and threatens regional stability. Gulf countries continue to oppose this plan and defend the rights of the Palestinian people. However, it remains unclear whether these reactions will turn into concrete steps and whether a lasting peace can be achieved in the region. In this process, the attitude of the international community and regional countries will be decisive for the future of Gaza.
Javid Mammadov