'We won't leave': Palestinians in Gaza reject Trump’s plan to take over enclave

As the rest of the globe debates about whether or not US President Donald Trump’s plan to "take over" the Gaza Strip will actually materialise, Palestinians in Gaza have taken to social media this week with a nearly unanimous response - they will not leave their homes.

On Tuesday, at a joint press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said the US was looking into taking over Gaza for the foreseeable future and displacing Palestinians from their homeland.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”

Trump continued to say that "everybody" he's spoken to "loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land". 

He said that Palestinians in Gaza could go somewhere “good, fresh, beautiful”, without mentioning the prospect of returning. He called on Jordan and Egypt to take in the forcibly expelled Palestinians, along with other unnamed countries. 

Jordan and Egypt have so far rejected the notion of taking in Palestinians, and Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and regional power players like Turkey have condemned the expulsion of Gaza's residents.

The announcement has received backlash in the US and from various leaders in the international community.

For Palestinians in Gaza, Trump's proposed plan has changed nothing about their intent to stay in their homeland. 

'Live or die here'

"I am from Gaza, my father and grandfather were from here. So they can do whatever they want, and we shall stay steadfast on our land," Gaza resident Ahmed Halasa said in an interview posted by Middle East Eye. "We've got one option only: live or die here". 

Another Gaza resident, Ahmed al-Minawi, echoed that sentiment.

"We returned despite the massive destruction and despite the lack of infrastructure, water and basic necessities. We returned because we categorically reject displacement".

Palestinian poet from Gaza, Mosab Abu Toha, took to his X account to respond to the news, saying, “We don’t want to just live! We want to live on our homeland!”

Palestinian Aya Massri shared a message on X with a picture of her morning coffee in Gaza, saying the land belongs to its indigenous people.

Good morning from the land that will belong to none but its people. pic.twitter.com/iZSiN0I1P4

— aya (@ayagmassri) February 5, 2025

Palestinian journalist Motasem Dalloul filmed a message for Trump and Netanyahu in front of the rubble of his Gaza home. 

“I’m going to rebuild my house with my hands. And every single Gazan will do the same as me. We will never leave our home. We will remain here until we die”.

Message to Netanyahu and Trump who want to force out us of #Gaza: pic.twitter.com/s1lkpF4UJi

— Motasem A Dalloul (@AbujomaaGaza) February 5, 2025

Writer and political analyst Dr Fayez Abu Shamala also filmed a message directed at Trump. "We tell trump that we will not leave the land of Gaza, and we will not repeat the Nakba – even if we live in tents on top of the rubble," he said. 

Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed expressed frustration that his future is being "decided by someone else". 

The feelings I have while listening to this are just wrath and pain. How can my future be decided by someone else? This world is upside down.

We are here. And we won’t leave. People would prefer to die alone in Gaza rather than leave for peace. https://t.co/DoMRuOkfNu

— Abubaker Abed (@AbubakerAbedW) February 5, 2025

In another post on X, Abed called for unity in the Palestinian cause in order to slow down any momentum for Trump’s plan. 

"We need unity at the moment. The diaspora and the West Bank in particular cannot stay silent. We need to defy these plans. We are strong together with the free people of the world. We are rooted here and we won’t leave. Full stop".