There’s a deafening silence over one issue facing Gazans (Image: Getty)
The sight of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being exchanged for pitifully few October 7 hostages is an enduring image of the ceasefire deal.
Yet it seems that not every inmate slated for release from Israeli prisons has enthusiastically embraced their undeserving get-out-of-jail card. In one recent exchange two actually refused to board the bus to Gaza, preferring to stay behind bars rather than “return home”.
That incarceration somehow aces liberty is crazy. But perhaps leaving prison to return to their battle-ravaged homeland and the care of their Hamas overlords wasn’t a pact these Palestinian prisoners wanted to make. Which surely begs the question: are there people living in Gaza who might want to leave too?
Of course, in the furore surrounding ‘s suggestion to “take over and own” Gaza, the understanding is that the Palestinians don’t want to leave. And to be clear, no innocent person should ever be forcibly removed from their home – which is the flaw in Trump’s grand scheme to rebuild the strip.
But surely after months of bombing, destruction and being reduced to human shields by an implacable and merciless terrorist leadership, there are Gazans who would voluntarily embrace resettlement? If only on a temporary basis.
If the answer is yes, the world needs to make room. And where would they go? Since countries which previously have been so voluble about the plight of Gaza now remain silent about taking in refugees from the crisis. Not in my back yard has never covered so many square miles.
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What’s more, the protocol to take in displaced Gazans could soon be in place — dodging any argument that their emigration would be difficult to achieve.
Only today Israeli Defence Minister Katz ordered the military to ready a plan by which residents of Gaza can move to any place that agrees to absorb them.
In fact he specifically mentioned countries such as , , as potential destinations since, in his words, all these countries have levelled “false accusations” regarding ’s war against in Gaza. Katz argues that if these nations refuse to accept Palestinians, “their hypocrisy will be exposed”.
So why the silence? Could it be that, unpalatable as it sounds, talk is cheap? And that whilst burnishing political credentials and public hand-wringing is easy, putting out the welcome mat is not.
For the fact is that unlike other refugee crises where the UN and Western countries have swiftly arranged temporary resettlement programmes, there’s no broad international effort or will to relocate those Gazans who wish to leave. The sanctuary offered to, say, Ukrainians fleeing from ‘s bloody incursion has not been extended to the people of Gaza.
Some countries may tactically (and fallaciously) declare that allowing Palestinians to leave en masse will simply benefit and make a two-state solution harder to achieve. A nonsensical argument since this is not an issue of forced repatriation but individual choice.
’s legendary Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abba Eban, once declared “history teaches us that men and nations only behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives”.
So, while alternatives are being pursued, why wouldn’t other countries offer temporary sanctuary for those who want to leave Gaza and enjoy peace, security, and above all the freedoms of the West while their home is rebuilt. Or is the fear that they won’t go back?
Naturally, taking in large numbers of refugees requires infrastructure, funding, and political will. But this is about offering a temporary solution to those who want to take it.
Anyway, those of a cynical nature may also observe that if the ‘s choice in pro-Palestinian interviewees is anything to go by, most Gazans rail against the idea of leaving. So, voluntary repatriation may not involve large numbers.
Perhaps there is a reluctance to offer sanctuary because of a wariness that militants could embed themselves among the refugees who want to leave Gaza. Though if this is the case then it surely backs up Trump’s argument that displacing radicalism with a capitalist dream in Gaza can only be achieved if the strip is taken over by America and built from scratch. A concept difficult to swallow in left-wing soirees where Gaza is debated over lentil bake and vegan chianti.
has a right to live in security and no longer fear a genocidal neighbour. And the innocent people of Gaza have a right to make good their lives. But conflict creates displacement and movement of populations while lines are redrawn – as was the case after the Second World War. Countries who call for the reframing and rebuilding of Gaza should therefore offer to help with voluntary and temporary resettlement.
That they haven’t suggests that their Pro-Palestinian sentiment is as insubstantial as the rubble to which Gaza has been reduced.