Hamas welcomes Donald Trump's U-turn on Gaza mass expulsion plan; ‘We call for this position…’

Hamas has applauded US President Donald Trump's apparent U-turn from his plan to permanently relocate nearly two million Palestinians from Gaza.

Updated on: Mar 13, 2025, 18:11:27 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Hamas has applauded US President Donald Trump's apparent U-turn from his plan to permanently relocate nearly two million Palestinians from Gaza.

Trump on Wednesday responded to a reporter's inquiry on Gaza, stating, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians.” He made the comments following his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House. (Bloomberg)

This comes as Trump responded to a reporter's inquiry on Gaza, stating, “Nobody is expelling any Palestinians.” He made the comments following his meeting with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin at the White House.

“If US President Trump’s statements represent a retreat from any idea of displacing the people of the Gaza Strip, they are welcomed,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in the statement, as per Reuters.

“We call for this position to be reinforced by obligating the Israeli occupation to implement all the terms of the ceasefire agreements,” he added.

Trump's comments and the Hamas response may help to ease some of the tensions at time when a truce extension between Israel and Hamas is being explored for the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian inmates.

Trump has earlier outlined a plan for the United States to take over Gaza, relocating Palestinians primarily to Egypt and Jordan, and then transforming the region into a contemporary, space called “Riviera of the Middle East.”

International organizations and Palestinian groups have denounced the proposal as ethnic cleansing and forced relocation.

Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign ministry expressed gratitude to Trump for not seeking the removal of Gaza's citizens.

Also Read: Israel's move to cut off Gaza's electricity supply ‘cheap, unacceptable blackmail’, says Hamas

Here's what's next for Hamas and Israel

Taher Al-Nono, the Hamas leader's political adviser, stated on Sunday that the terrorist organisation had undertaken unprecedented, open discussions with Washington in the Qatari capital over the last week, The Jerusalem Post reported. The conversations were centered on the release of an American-Israeli dual national who was being held captive in Gaza.

As mediators moved forward with discussions to extend a 42-day truce that started in January, Israel and Hamas indicated on Saturday that they were getting ready for the next stage of ceasefire negotiations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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