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'We Will Not Leave,' Gazans Say as Trump, Netanyahu Meet
Hatem Azzam, a resident of Rafah in southern Gaza, is enraged by U.S. President Donald Trump's recent suggestion that Gazans should relocate to Egypt or Jordan. "Trump thinks Gaza is a pile of garbage — absolutely not," Azzam, 34, said, criticizing Trump's plan to "clean out the whole thing."
Trump's remarks have sparked strong backlash, with both Egypt and Jordan rejecting the idea, along with Gazans and neighboring countries. "Trump and Netanyahu must understand the reality of the Palestinian people. We are deeply rooted in our land — we will not leave," Azzam told AFP ahead of Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington.
Ihab Ahmed, another Rafah resident, echoed the sentiment, saying that neither Trump nor Netanyahu understood Palestinians' connection to their land. "We will stay, even if we have to live in tents and on the streets," said Ahmed, 30. He stressed that Palestinians had learned from the 1948 war, when they were displaced by the creation of Israel and denied the right to return. "We will not leave, as happened in 1948."
In northern Gaza, Raafat Kalob expressed concern over the potential outcome of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting. "I expect Netanyahu’s visit to reflect plans to forcibly displace the Palestinian people," Kalob said, standing near buildings destroyed by war. "I sincerely hope this plan does not succeed."
In Jabalia, a heavily affected area in northern Gaza, displaced Palestinians who returned after a January 19 ceasefire have settled in tents near their demolished homes. Some remain hopeful, like 50-year-old Majid al-Zebda, who believes Trump will pressure Netanyahu to end the war permanently.
"We are the owners of this land; we have always been here and will always be. The future is ours," said Zebda, a father of six who lost his home in the conflict. Despite the challenges, Gazans remain firm in their resolve to stay rooted in their land.