(Washington, D.C., February 5, 2025) — In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to "own" Gaza and ethnically cleanse its Palestinian population, DAWN issues the following statement:
"This is a reckless and irresponsible proposal that threatens to engulf America in yet another catastrophic war and deepen our entanglement in the Gaza quagmire," said Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN. "Trump's idea follows the same neocolonial playbook that has already devastated Iraq and Afghanistan, sadly proving that America First rhetoric is nothing more than a mask for endless war and domination."
"Trump's remarks won't just impact Palestine; they are an attempt to shred international law and the entire post-WWII world order, which for decades have prohibited the acquisition of territory by force as their foundational pillar," said Raed Jarrar, DAWN's Director of Advocacy. "Trump is embracing a medieval mindset of conquest, which will send a signal to autocrats everywhere that ethnic cleansing and land grabs are acceptable tools of statecraft."
"The reconstruction of Gaza is critically important, but it must be built by Palestinians, for Palestinians, and ruled by Palestinians, and if Palestinians need to wait it out, they can do so in Israel," said Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, DAWN's Israel-Palestine Research Director. "Palestinians do deserve their own 'Riviera,' but not as a U.S. colony, and only they are entitled to decide what the future governance of Gaza looks like."
"Forcibly removing Palestinians from their homeland is not just ethnic cleansing—it is part of the legal definition of genocide," added Jarrar. "Trump's plan is a blueprint for war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, and the world looks away at its own immediate peril."
"DAWN calls on the international community, including U.S. lawmakers, to reject any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homeland and steal their land," said Whitson. "This plan would not only violate international law but also fuel anti-American sentiment worldwide, making our country less safe and putting our troops at risk."
