When US President Donald Trump started referring to Gaza as a demolition site" and called to "clean out that whole thing ten days ago, the nature of these comments was initially unclear.
However, as the anticipation for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit grew, Trump's seriousness about his proposals became evident in his discussions prior to the meeting and during the subsequent press conference.
These proposals mark a significant departure from the traditional US stance on Israel and the Palestinians, potentially defying international law.
The impact of this announcement extends beyond the immediate ceasefire and hostage release efforts, potentially affecting ordinary individuals in Gaza during a critical phase.
Trump is advocating for the permanent "resettlement" of all Palestinians from Gaza under the guise of a humanitarian initiative, labeling Gaza as uninhabitable.
This proposal contradicts international law, explicitly prohibiting forced population transfer, and is viewed as an attempt to expel Palestinians and conduct ethnic cleansing in their homeland.
There has been a swift rejection of Trump's ideas by Arab leaders, who see the proposal as a threat to regional stability and a hindrance to peace efforts.
Moves to expel Palestinians and expand Jewish settlements in the occupied territories have long been supported by ultranationalist factions within Israel, including members of Netanyahu's coalition.
In a recent press conference with Netanyahu at the White House, Trump went a step further, suggesting that the US would take control of Gaza after relocating Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan and even hinted at allowing Palestinians to return after transforming the region.
The proposal signifies a radical shift in US policy towards the region and presents a considerable challenge to the established two-state solution, likely to face strong opposition from Palestinians and the Arab world.
For the Palestinian population, such actions would amount to a severe form of collective punishment and jeopardize any prospects of peaceful coexistence.
Netanyahu's political base and ultranationalist settlers in Israel may support Trump's approach as a means to neutralize the perceived threat from Gaza.
Overall, Trump's proposals risk upending the delicate balance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and could have far-reaching ramifications if implemented.