Open Letter To Trump Gaza Belongs To Palestinians

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Dear US President Donald Trump,
Justice is the bedrock of peace and any plan or policy that undermines it is destined to fail.
The ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people and the illegal occupation of their land reflect the absence of justice, which must be restored as the foundation for meaningful progress.
Reports indicating that you are considering relocating the Palestinian population of Gaza to neighbouring Arab states is one that is devoid of justice.
It has already been categorically rejected by Egypt, Jordan, and the Palestinian people.
It is ill-conceived and completely disregards the undeniable truth: Gaza belongs to the Palestinians, and no plan to uproot them from their rightful land will ever be acceptable.
Your proposed plan reveals several troubling motives and implications:
Disregard for international law: The plan ignores rulings by the International Court of Justice and UN resolutions, which affirm the Palestinians' right to their land.
Lack of understanding of historical context: It disregards the Palestinians’ long and deep-rooted connection to their land.
Support for Israeli interests: It aligns with Israel’s policies of displacement and settlement expansion while undermining Palestinian rights.
Indifference to human suffering: Forcibly uprooting 2.2 million people disregards the immense trauma and loss of identity that such displacement would cause.
Authoritarian tendencies: The unilateral nature of the plan, proposed without consultation with the Palestinian people, reflects an authoritarian approach.
Undermining peace and justice: By rewarding Israel’s violations, the plan diminishes the principles of accountability and justice necessary for lasting peace.
Short-term political calculations: The plan appears to cater to specific domestic and international constituencies rather than addressing the root cause, which is the occupation.
The ICJ, in its landmark ruling of July 19, 2024, declared Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem to be unlawful.
This ruling has been strongly endorsed by the UN General Assembly’s resolution of Sept 18, 2024.
Israel’s continued occupation, settlement expansion, and exploitation of Palestinian natural resources are in blatant violation of international law and have been repeatedly condemned by many UN member states, human rights organisations, and the global community at large.
US President Donald TrumpWe urge you, Mr President, to recognise the following realities:
1. The Palestinian people will not abandon their rightful land. The resilience demonstrated during the last 15 months in Gaza proves that neither bombs nor bullets can force them to relinquish what is theirs by right.
2. International law supports the Palestinian cause. The occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel is illegal under international law.
3. The right of return for Palestinians is enshrined in international law. UN General Assembly Resolution 194 explicitly affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties. Any lasting peace requires the recognition and implementation of this fundamental right.
4. If relocation is to occur, it should uphold international law. It should involve removing illegal settlers from the West Bank and restoring Palestinian rights to their lands. This aligns with rulings by international bodies, which affirm the illegality of Israeli settlements and the Palestinian people’s rightful claim to their occupied territories.
5. Peace cannot exist without justice. True peace demands Israel’s full compliance with international law, including ending its occupation of Palestinian territories. Justice must be the foundation of any resolution to this conflict.
Justice must be a universal principle guiding both foreign and domestic priorities.
Your immigration orders, which risk the denaturalisation of naturalised citizens such as Congress member Ilhan Omar, reflect a troubling neglect of the rights of marginalised communities.
These same principles of neglect are mirrored in foreign policy proposals, such as the plan to uproot millions of Gazans from their homes.
This troubling disregard for justice is also evident in your administration’s financial priorities.
While tens of billions of dollars are sent to Israel to fund violence - including increased killings in the West Bank despite the Gaza ceasefire - millions of Americans struggle for basic necessities like healthcare, housing, and education.
Reallocating these resources to address the needs of vulnerable Americans is not only a moral imperative but also an essential aspect of achieving justice.
From apartheid in South Africa to civil rights movements worldwide, history teaches us that only justice can heal the wounds of displacement and oppression and pave the way to peace and reconciliation.
To ignore it is to perpetuate instability, deepen human suffering, and erode the very principles that international institutions and democratic nations stand for.
We urge you, Mr President, to abandon this ill-conceived plan and instead lead the way toward a just and lasting peace - one that honours the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and holds Israel accountable for its actions under international law.
The United States must end its blind support and allegiance to Israel’s violations and instead take a principled stand for justice, human rights, and the rule of law.
We also call on world leaders to uphold their commitment to these principles and take decisive action against Israel’s consistent violations of human rights and international norms.
Injustice in Gaza affects not only Palestinians but the credibility of those who fail to act.
Gaza belongs to the Palestinians. Any proposal to uproot them from their land is a direct affront to justice and international law.
The world is watching, and future generations will judge harshly those who fail to act in defence of justice and human dignity.
Sincerely,
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (Malaysia)
- Mkini
BDS MALAYSIA is part of the global BDS movement for freedom, justice and equality for Palestine. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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