US embassy in Libya denies report that Washington seeks to relocate Gazans

The U.S. embassy in Tripoli on Sunday denied a report that the Trump administration seeks a mass relocation of Gazans to the North African country of Libya.

“The report of alleged plans to relocate Gazans to Libya is untrue,” the U.S. embassy wrote in a post on 𝕏. 

The statement was a response to an NBC News report on Thursday, which claimed that the Trump administration is preparing a plan to permanently relocate around one million Gazans to Libya. With roughly the same geographical size as Mexico but a population of just seven million, sparsely populated Libya is reportedly being considered as a potential host country for Gazans seeking a better life amid the devastation caused by war in Gaza.

However, an unnamed U.S. administration spokesperson argued that the current socio-economic and political instability in Libya makes the proposal unrealistic. 

“The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan. Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense,” the official said. The Government of National Unity in Tripoli, recognized by the international community as the de facto Libyan government, did not comment on the issue.

In February, Trump unveiled his Gaza plan, which calls for the temporary or permanent resettlement of Gaza’s two million residents in mostly Arab and Muslim-majority countries. Trump argued that most of Gaza is devastated and uninhabitable due to the war. The U.S. president also stressed that the reconstruction of Gaza would take over a decade, requiring civilians to live elsewhere.

However, despite official concerns for the well-being of Gazans, the Arab and Muslim world rejected Trump’s Gaza plan. Trump previously asked neighboring Egypt and Jordan to absorb a large number of Gazans. However, both countries have so far refused. Jordan reluctantly accepted to temporarily take in a smaller number of seriously ill children. 

“These are dark days. There is shock and concern following Trump's words,” an anonymous Arab official told the Israeli broadcaster Kan News. “This is the negotiating method of a real estate man, not a statesman. Migration is a red line and there is no room for thinking about it.”

Trump previously stated that he seeks to transform Gaza into the “Riveria of the Middle East.” 

His Gaza plan has also been criticized by some Western leaders. 

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock rejected Trump's plan.

“An expulsion of the Palestinian civilian population from Gaza would not only be unacceptable and contrary to international law, it would also lead to new suffering and new hatred,” Baerbock argued in February. “There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians.”

However, there are signs that some Arab and European diplomats oppose potential relocation efforts, despite the wishes of the majority of Gazans.

An April poll found that more than 50% of Gaza’s population would consider emigrating if given the opportunity, while about 39% expressed a desire to remain.