In a development that has triggered alarm and international concern, NBC News has reported that the administration of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump is actively exploring a controversial plan to permanently relocate up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya. The move is purportedly part of a broader post-conflict strategy aimed at reshaping the future of Gaza and redefining U.S. influence in the Middle East.
The report, based on information from five individuals familiar with the plan—including two with direct knowledge of the discussions and a former U.S. official—indicates that this is not a mere theoretical concept, but a serious proposal that has reached the level of diplomatic discussion with Libyan authorities. These sources have revealed that the Trump administration has floated the idea to Libya’s political leadership, offering substantial financial incentives in exchange for cooperation.
Billions in Frozen Funds as Bait for Libya
According to NBC’s sources, the Trump administration has considered unfreezing billions of dollars in Libyan assets that were previously seized by the United States over a decade ago. These funds could be used as leverage to persuade Libyan authorities to accept and resettle the displaced Palestinians. However, no final agreement has been reached, and negotiations remain in a delicate and uncertain phase.
Three sources confirmed that Israel has also been informed of the plan’s discussions, although Tel Aviv has not publicly commented on the matter. Both the U.S. State Department and the National Security Council refused to respond to NBC News’ repeated requests for comment before the publication of the report. After it went public, a U.S. government spokesperson denied the veracity of the report, stating, “These reports are false. The situation on the ground does not support such a plan. No such discussions have taken place, and the idea makes no sense.”
Despite this denial, sources involved in the process maintain that such a plan was indeed being seriously explored at high levels within the Trump administration.
Hamas and Palestinian Response: A Firm Rejection
Senior Hamas leader Bassem Naim reacted strongly to the NBC report, stating that Palestinians are deeply rooted in their land and will not accept displacement under any circumstances. “The Palestinians are deeply tied to their homeland,” he said. “They are committed to defending it, and they are willing to make any sacrifice to preserve their land, homes, families, and future generations.”
Naim also emphasized that only Hamas has the legitimate authority to make decisions on behalf of Gaza’s residents and that any relocation plan formulated without Palestinian involvement or consent is illegitimate.
A Fragile and Fragmented Libya: An Unlikely Refuge
The feasibility of relocating such a large population to Libya is widely questioned by analysts, given Libya’s ongoing instability. Since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has remained embroiled in violent conflict, political fragmentation, and economic crisis. The country is effectively divided between two competing governments: the UN-backed Government of National Unity in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh, and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in the east, led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
NBC News reported that neither side responded to requests for comment on the reported relocation plan. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has warned American citizens not to travel to Libya, citing widespread crime, terrorism, armed conflict, and political unrest.
The relocation of one million Palestinians—many of whom are already impoverished and traumatized by years of war in Gaza—would likely strain Libya’s limited resources and further destabilize the country, experts say.
Legal, Logistical, and Ethical Challenges
Aside from diplomatic and geopolitical implications, the plan also faces major legal and ethical obstacles. The forced or incentivized transfer of populations under occupation may violate international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits the transfer of occupied populations. Human rights organizations and legal experts are likely to oppose such a plan on the grounds that it may amount to ethnic cleansing or forced displacement.
Moreover, the logistical requirements of such a massive relocation are staggering. A former U.S. official told NBC News that the administration was exploring every possible transportation option, including airlifts, land convoys, and sea routes to move people from Gaza to Libya. However, no specific relocation sites within Libya have yet been identified.
A Wider Strategy: Trump’s Vision for Post-War Gaza
The proposed relocation fits into a broader strategic vision that former President Trump has promoted for Gaza. In February 2025, Trump publicly stated that the United States should “take over” Gaza, rebuild it, and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He suggested that by removing the existing population and investing in infrastructure and development, Gaza could become a regional showcase of prosperity and modernization.
“We will occupy that part (Gaza), rebuild it, and create thousands of jobs,” Trump declared. “It will be something the entire Middle East can be proud of.” However, he also noted that achieving this vision would require relocating the Palestinian population elsewhere.
In March 2025, the Trump administration and the Israeli government rejected an alternative proposal by Egypt, which called for the reconstruction of Gaza without removing its residents. This further fueled speculation that forced relocation was a key pillar of the Trump administration’s post-war Gaza policy.
Other Destinations Under Consideration: Syria a Possibility
According to NBC, Syria is also being discussed as a potential relocation site for Gaza’s Palestinians. A senior U.S. official and a former American diplomat involved in the talks confirmed that, after the recent fall of Bashar al-Assad, the Trump administration has begun engaging with Syria’s new leadership on the matter. Trump recently met with Syrian leader Al-Sharar during a summit in Saudi Arabia and expressed interest in lifting sanctions on Damascus in exchange for cooperation on regional stability.
Re-establishing diplomatic relations with Syria, once a pariah state, would represent a major shift in U.S. foreign policy, and the relocation plan could serve as a catalyst for this new engagement.
Strategic and Political Calculations
Analysts believe that the relocation plan may be part of a larger strategy by Trump to reshape the Middle East’s power dynamics, especially in the context of his strained relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s decision to launch a new military offensive in Gaza has reportedly caused friction with Trump, who is believed to be seeking alternative solutions to the conflict that diverge from Israel’s militarized approach.
Multiple sources confirmed that other locations beyond Libya and Syria have also been considered for Palestinian resettlement, although these discussions remain classified.
Global Reactions and Implications
The implications of such a plan are enormous. Relocating a million people from their homeland—especially in a politically and militarily volatile region—could lead to widespread condemnation from the international community, particularly from Arab and Muslim-majority nations. It could also radicalize more Palestinians, deepen divisions in the Middle East, and further erode prospects for a two-state solution.
Humanitarian agencies, including UNRWA and Amnesty International, have not yet issued formal responses, but experts expect significant pushback once more details emerge.
While the Trump administration has denied the existence of the reported plan, multiple well-placed sources and foreign policy insiders maintain that serious discussions have taken place. The idea of mass relocation as a solution to conflict in Gaza is not only logistically and politically fraught but also morally and legally controversial.
As the Middle East continues to reel from cycles of war, displacement, and instability, proposals such as this underscore the urgent need for inclusive, lawful, and humane solutions to the region’s enduring crises—solutions that respect the rights, dignity, and agency of the Palestinian people, rather than treating them as pawns in a geopolitical chess game.
