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Protests erupt as Trump meets Netanyahu and calls for Gaza "takeover" plan
By isabelle // 2025-02-07
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  • Hundreds protest Trump's meeting with Netanyahu at the White House, condemning it as a betrayal of American values.
  • Demonstrators criticize Trump’s proposal to depopulate Gaza and turn it into a U.S.-controlled territory.
  • Netanyahu’s presence in D.C. is seen as an affront to justice, given his ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes.
  • The protests highlight the staggering human cost of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, with nearly 62,000 Palestinians killed since October 2023.
  • Critics slam Trump’s plan as a colonialist fantasy that disregards international law and Palestinian rights.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the White House on Tuesday as President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a controversial meeting. The demonstrators, representing a coalition of Muslim Americans, anti-war groups, and pro-Palestine advocates, condemned the meeting as a betrayal of American values and a green light for further violence in Gaza. Their anger was fueled by Netanyahu’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has drawn accusations of genocide, and later, Trump’s shocking proposal to “take over” Gaza, depopulate it, and turn it into a U.S.-owned “Riviera of the Middle East.” The meeting marked Netanyahu’s first visit to the U.S. during Trump’s second term, despite the Israeli leader facing an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. While neither the U.S. nor Israel recognizes the ICC’s jurisdiction, protesters argued that Netanyahu’s presence in Washington, D.C., was an affront to justice. “Netanyahu does not belong on the streets of Washington, D.C. He belongs in The Hague,” said Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the anti-war group Code Pink, at a press conference outside the White House. The protesters’ outrage stems from the staggering human cost of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which has killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to rights groups. Leading human rights organizations and United Nations experts have accused Israel of committing genocide, using starvation as a weapon of war, and systematically destroying Gaza’s infrastructure. Activists also criticized the U.S. for its continued military and financial support of Israel, which they argue enables the violence. “Americans do not want their tax money used to kill Palestinians,” said Michael Schirtzer, an activist at the protest. “The people of Palestine will be going nowhere. They are the Indigenous people of that land.”

Trump’s controversial Gaza plan sparks outrage

The protests took on a new urgency after Trump doubled down on his proposal to depopulate Gaza and turn it into a U.S.-controlled territory. Speaking alongside Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Palestinians “would love” to leave Gaza if given the chance, claiming the U.S. could “take over” the area, level it, and build a “beautiful town” in its place. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.” Critics slammed the plan as a colonialist fantasy that disregards international law and the rights of Palestinians. “It’s a colonizer mentality to say that you’re going to displace people,” Schirtzer told Al Jazeera.

Growing backlash

Trump’s remarks have drawn condemnation from Arab states, human rights groups, and even some U.S. lawmakers. Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia have rejected the idea of displacing Palestinians, calling it a non-starter. Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware described the plan as “insane." Despite the backlash, Netanyahu appeared to welcome Trump’s proposal, which aligns with the goals of Israel’s far-right factions. “Donald, this looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” wrote Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s former national security minister, in a post on X. As Trump and Netanyahu met behind closed doors, the protests outside the White House served as a reminder of the growing divide between U.S. policy and public sentiment. For many Americans, the meeting symbolized a dangerous escalation of U.S. complicity in Israel’s actions in Gaza and a betrayal of the values of justice and human rights. With Trump’s controversial Gaza plan now on the table, the protests and calls for accountability are likely to intensify, further complicating the already fraught relationship between the U.S., Israel, and the Palestinian people. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net AlJazeera.com CNN.com
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