Gaza: Trump’s Extreme Ask Tests His ‘Negotiate to Win’ Strategy
Trump’s negotiation style—make an extreme ask, then negotiate to a win—faces its toughest test yet as Palestinian leaders reject displacement and legal experts question the plan’s feasibility.
President Donald Trump’s proposal to seize control of Gaza, relocate its 2 million Palestinian residents, and transform the region into a luxurious economic hub—dubbed the “Riviera of the Middle East”—is being viewed as a prime example of his negotiating style: make bold, shocking demands, then secure a perceived victory through compromise. Political commentator Michael Solana summarized it as Trump making “an enormous ask” before negotiating down to a “moderate total victory.” (X)
Revealed during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the plan involves relocating Gaza’s population to neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan. Critics warn that forced relocations would violate international law and could result in severe humanitarian fallout. (NYT)
Supporters and Detractors
Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David M. Friedman described the plan as “brilliant,” emphasizing its potential to secure Israel’s long-term safety. However, Halie Soifer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America called it “extreme” and “detached from reality.” Palestinian leaders issued firm rejections of the plan.
Palestinian Authority Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen told CNN that the proposal amounts to another chapter of forced displacement. “We have tried refuge before. We have tried displacement before, and it will not happen again,” she said, referencing previous mass displacements in 1948 and during Israeli wars on Gaza. “If President Trump wants to create a riviera, let it be with Palestinians in their homeland, not by removing them.” (CNN)
Feasibility and Costs
The plan’s financial and logistical obstacles remain significant. Andrew Miller, a former Middle East adviser, remarked that the resources needed to implement the plan would surpass the U.S.’s $40 billion foreign aid budget. “[The costs] would make that budget look like a rounding error,” he said.
With pushback mounting, many believe the proposal reflects Trump’s broader strategy of reshaping negotiations through bold opening bids, regardless of whether they are realistic.