The US president states, ‘nobody is expelling Palestinians from Gaza,’ retracting previous comments about clearing the conflict-affected area of its residents.
Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem expressed approval of United States President Donald Trump’s apparent backtrack on his suggestion to permanently remove over two million Palestinians from Gaza.
This statement from the Hamas representative followed Trump’s remarks on Wednesday that “nobody is expelling any Palestinians from Gaza,” made during a White House meeting with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheal Martin.
“If President Trump’s comments signify a retreat from any notion of displacing the people of Gaza Strip, we welcome this,” Qassem remarked.
“We urge this stance to be reinforced by holding the Israeli occupation accountable for implementing all terms of the ceasefire agreements,” he added.
Last month, Trump caused considerable uproar throughout the Middle East and beyond when he suggested a US takeover of Gaza, proposing that the Palestinian population be permanently relocated to neighboring nations.
Trump’s apparent reversal occurred following a meeting in Qatar on Wednesday, where Arab foreign ministers convened with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction.
The meeting included foreign ministers from Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, as stated by Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The Arab foreign ministers deliberated on the Gaza reconstruction plan, endorsed at the Arab League Summit in Cairo on March 4, 2025,” the ministry noted.
“They also reached an agreement with the US envoy to maintain consultations and coordination on this plan as a foundation for reconstruction efforts in the region,” it added.
On Saturday, the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) officially adopted a plan for Gaza proposed by the Arab League during an emergency session in Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian-led initiative aims to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the Palestinian Authority’s future governance in response to Trump’s proposition to take over Gaza and evacuate its residents.
Gaza ceasefire discussions
A new round of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza commenced in Qatar on Tuesday, with Witkoff sent to Doha for the discussions.
“The Arab ministers stressed the significance of sustaining the ceasefire in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories, highlighting the need for earnest endeavors to achieve a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution, fulfilling the Palestinian people’s aspirations for freedom and independence,” added the Qatari Foreign Ministry’s statement.
On Sunday, Taher al-Nono, a political adviser to Hamas leadership, confirmed unprecedented direct discussions with Washington in Qatar concerning the release of an American-Israeli dual national held by the armed group in Gaza.
Al-Nono indicated that the meetings between Hamas leaders and the US hostage negotiator, Adam Boehler, also went over how to implement the phased ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza.
The direct talks between Boehler and Hamas mark a significant shift from a long-standing US policy of not negotiating with groups designated as “terrorist organizations.”
A Hamas delegation has also recently met with Egyptian mediators, reiterating their readiness to negotiate the next phase of the ceasefire with Israel, while Israel sent negotiators to Doha on Monday for ceasefire discussions.
The first 42-day phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement expired earlier this month without any agreement from Israel on subsequent stages intended to secure a lasting conclusion to the conflict in Gaza.
Since then, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, now in its 12th day, which prevents the entry of food, fuel, and medicine into the territory amid claims of collective punishment and an “weaponization of humanitarian aid” to exert pressure on Hamas.
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