Donald Trump’s insane plan for Gaza explained – what he’s planning and can he do it?

The US President’s proposals have sent shockwaves around the region – and the world – with many responding with disbelief. Here’s everything you need to know

Donald Trump has come up with a plan for the future of Gaza – and it has immediately been branded “unacceptable.”

The US President’s proposals have sent shockwaves around the region – and the world – with many responding with disbelief.

But what exactly is Trump planning – and is he serious? Where would the Palestinian people go? And will neighbouring countries accept the plan?

Here’s everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s insane plan for invading, rebuilding and keeping Gaza.

What is Trump proposing?

Donald Trump wants to turn Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.

He says his plan would be for the US to “take over” the Gaza strip, rebuild it from the rubble – and keep it.

Trump said people “from around the world” would be allowed to live in the newly refurbished land.

But that doesn’t include the 1.7 million Palestinians who call Gaza home.

Under Trump’s plan, Palestinians would be resettled somewhere in a “nice, happy place”. He suggested Jordan and Egypt could offer land for displaced Palestinians to live in.

Can he do that?

Such a move would amount to a foreign power which has no stake in the region invading, ousting the rightful owners and occupying it permanently, which is unlikely to comply with international law.

Any invading force would be met with stiff resistance from what remains of Hamas, leading to a conflict that would almost certainly be long, bloody and with no guarantee of success.

If Trump wants to commit American troops to the invasion – which he hasn’t ruled out – such action would require approval from Congress.

And while the Republican Party controls both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it’s far from certain he’d get the votes he needs to get such approval. Trump ran on a promise not to get involved in any more “foreign wars” – let alone start new ones.

Is he serious?

He appears to be. It’s not the first time he’s spoken of Gaza in terms of the value of its real estate.

On his first day back in the White House he said it was a “phenomenal location.”

“On the sea, the best weather, you know everything’s good,” he said. “Beautiful things could be done with it. Fantastic things could be done with Gaza.”

The idea of the US seizing control of Gaza reportedly came from Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who Trump made a Middle East envoy during his first Administration.

Whether he’d be able to make it happen is unclear – but this isn’t something he’s thought up on the spot. He’s been planning it for a while.

How has it gone down in the Middle East?

Very poorly indeed.

Saudi Arabia was first to respond, saying the country would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel ” without an independent Palestinian state, saying its position was “non-negotiable and not subject to compromises”.

Jordan and Egypt both rejected Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians – thousands of whom are already taking refuge in their borders – could be resettled in their territory permanently.

Badr Albusaidi, Oman’s foreign minister said: “Any attempt at forced resettlement would be a very serious crime.”

Turkey said the plan was “unacceptable” and added: “Neither we nor the region would accept a deportation from Gaza. Why put forth proposals that do not stop the conflict but will bring more conflict?”

And, of course, Hamas rejected the proposals, saying Trump’s statement was “irresponsible” and risked flaring up conflict in the region.

Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority said the plan amounted to a “serious violation of international law.”

Will it have repercussions for the ceasefire?

That’s certainly a risk. Palestinians view Gaza as an integral part of their national homeland, something they’ve fought for for decades.

The deal is already fragile, with deep mistrust between the leaders of both sides.

And the Palestinian people threatened with forced relocation by what they would see as a foreign aggressor – again – is unlikely to make it any less fragile.