From the Liveblog of
Thursday, October 16, 2025
US stresses Gazans won’t be forced to leave Strip during reconstruction
Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
A senior adviser to US President Donald Trump reiterates that Gazans will not be forced to leave the Strip while it is being rebuilt.
Trump’s plan for ending the war explicitly states that Palestinians will be encouraged to stay in the Gaza Strip, but reporters have continued asking whether anyone will be forced to leave.
The American president had proposed in February that the US take over Gaza and permanently relocate the Strip’s entire population. While the idea was widely embraced in Israel, it was overwhelmingly rejected by the rest of the international community and Trump eventually distanced himself from the initiative.
The US president’s proposal was unveiled shortly after his special envoy Steve Witkoff visited the Gaza and declared that the enclave was largely uninhabitable as it was full of unexploded ordinances.
But in a briefing with reporters on condition of anonymity, the senior Trump adviser indicates that Washington has undergone an about-face on the matter.
“These are tough people. They’ve been through a lot, and they seem to be resilient. They’re coming back to their homes, and they’re pitching tents. People feel very invested in the places where they live. It’s remarkable to see,” he says.
“While there are Gazans who have left because the living conditions are that difficult… no one is forcing any Gazans to leave,” the senior Trump adviser adds.
The Times of Israel Community.