Trump’s $2B Plan to Move Gaza’s People to Camps: What’s Really Happening?
A U.S.-backed group proposed a $2 billion plan to relocate Gaza’s population to large-scale camps in Egypt and Cyprus, aiming to replace Hamas’s control with voluntary emigration. The controversial plan, discussed in the White House, has been criticized as unfeasible and ethically problematic, with no official U.S. support confirmed.
A $2 billion proposal for the voluntary relocation of Gaza’s Palestinian population to “Humanitarian Transit Areas” was discussed in the White House, aimed at replacing Hamas’s control with large-scale camps for temporary residence, deradicalization, and potential emigration. The plan, initiated by the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) after February 11, 2025, envisions eight massive camps, each housing hundreds of thousands, with Egypt and Cyprus named as potential destinations alongside other unspecified countries.
A source involved in the project stated, “The intent is to take the fear factor away, enabling Palestinians to escape control of Hamas and providing them a safe area to house their families.” The camps, designed to include schools and sanitation, would be overseen by GHF for construction and temporary relocation, with operations projected to start within 90 days of funding.
The proposal, presented to the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, aligns with President Trump’s vision to rebuild Gaza as the “Riviera of the Middle East” after relocating its 2.3 million residents, a concept he first raised on February 4, 2025. However, GHF denied submitting the plan, stating, “The slides are not a GHF document,” and emphasized its focus on food distribution, having delivered 56 million meals.
A senior U.S. official countered, “Nothing of the like is under consideration. Also, no resources are being directed to that end in any way.” Humanitarian experts, including Jeremy Konyndyk of Refugees International, criticized the plan, saying, “There is no such thing as voluntary displacement amongst a population that has been under constant bombardment for nearly two years and has been cut off from essential aid.” The UN and aid groups condemned the camps as violating humanitarian principles, citing risks of forced displacement amid Gaza’s crisis. The plan stalled due to funding issues, with UBS and Goldman Sachs refusing to open GHF accounts. Egypt and Jordan have resisted hosting Gazans, with Egypt’s Foreign Ministry rejecting similar proposals in 2023.