Trump Administration Considered Relocating One Million Palestinians to Libya

17th May 2025

3 minutes read

Trump Administration Considered Relocating One Million Palestinians to Libya

According to NBC News, in exchange for resettling Palestinians, the U.S. administration considered unfreezing billions of dollars in Libyan assets.

American media reports have revealed that former President Donald Trump’s administration seriously worked on a plan to relocate approximately one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya. This was part of a broader political vision aimed at redrawing the region’s future following the ongoing war in Gaza.

Despite widespread international and regional opposition, several reports confirm that the Trump administration was committed to this path, raising serious concerns about the potential humanitarian and political consequences.

A discreet but advanced proposal

According to NBC News, citing five informed sources including a former U.S. official, the Trump administration discussed this plan in detail with Libyan parties, indicating that it was more than a theoretical proposal — it had reached operational planning stages.

Leaked information suggests that the U.S. government considered offering substantial financial incentives to relocated Palestinians, including free housing and monthly stipends.

The plan reportedly reflected Trump’s personal vision for post-war Gaza. He had previously described Gaza as a future “Middle Eastern Riviera,” provided that its residents were relocated elsewhere.

“We’ll take this piece, develop it, and it will be something the entire Middle East can be proud of,” Trump reportedly said, referring to Gaza.

Execution remains vague and risky

Though a plan existed, its implementation details were unclear. NBC News reported that logistical options — by air, land, or sea — were still under consideration, with officials acknowledging the process would be complex, costly, and politically explosive.

No specific Libyan locations were identified to host the displaced population. The plan was also tied to the release of billions of dollars in frozen Libyan assets held in the U.S. for over a decade, in exchange for Libyan agreement to accept the Palestinians — a high-stakes political and financial barter.

Rejection across the Arab world and beyond

The proposal triggered a wave of rejection from Arab and international actors. Countries like Egypt and Jordan insisted that the priority must be to rebuild Gaza without displacing its native population.

The proposal also violates international law, which classifies forced population transfer as a crime against humanity.

Within the U.S., the plan sparked criticism from lawmakers and human rights organizations, who viewed it as a colonialist project aimed at reshaping the Middle East in line with American and Israeli interests, while disregarding the rights of indigenous peoples.

Libya’s instability heightens concerns

The proposal’s timing was also seen as questionable, given Libya’s ongoing internal conflict and fragile political environment.

Analysts warned that relocating large numbers of refugees into a country already struggling with economic and security instability could trigger social collapse.

While Libya has not issued an official position, leaked reports from government circles reveal deep internal divisions over the idea. Several powerful Libyan factions have strongly opposed the use of their territory for international resettlement solutions, citing risks to national sovereignty and security.

Despite growing opposition, figures within Trump’s political circle and aligned American think tanks continue to promote this plan as a “permanent solution” to what they call the “Gaza crisis.”

Most alarmingly, elements of the plan remain under discussion in influential U.S. policy circles.