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Gaza Is Not for Sale… Hamas Strongly Rejects the U.S. Plan
Hamas commented on reports by The Washington Post discussing a potential U.S. plan to take control of the Gaza Strip, evacuate its residents, and turn it into an economic and tourist zone.
Hamas officials described these reports as false. Bassem Naim, a member of the movement's Political Bureau, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) directed at the U.S. administration: “Drown it and drink its water, as the Palestinian proverb says. Gaza is not for sale.”
Naim emphasized that Gaza “is not a city on the map or a forgotten region but an integral part of the Greater Palestinian homeland.”
He reaffirmed that Hamas and the Palestinian people reject this plan, which, according to the American newspaper, involves transferring all residents of the Gaza Strip outside Gaza within ten years under U.S. supervision, aiming to transform the area into a tourist and advanced technology hub.
The plan reportedly proposes “voluntary” evacuation procedures for residents to leave for other countries or within different parts of Gaza, accompanied by restrictions during the reconstruction period.
In a related context, another Hamas official, who requested anonymity, said the movement rejects these plans aimed at displacing residents and prolonging occupation on Palestinian land, pointing out that they are worthless and lack any official support, noting that Hamas has not received any formal notice regarding this matter.
The Washington Post also indicated that the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump was studying this plan, which was developed based on his vision of transforming Gaza into the “Middle East Riviera,” placing the strip under the management of a special fund called the “Gaza Reconstruction Fund” (GREAT Trust).
The U.S. Department of State did not respond to News Committee requests for comment on the information in the report.
