Andrew L. Urban
At some point, Gazans will need to relocate during the rebuilding of Gaza, with or without Donald Trump’s towering fantasy becoming reality.
But could the art of Trump’s hypothetical Gaza deal include the Islamic Republic of Iran hosting the temporarily displaced Gazans – if necessary, some of them on one or more benign ‘reservations’? At least until more permanent homes could be built, that would provide shelter for the decade or more that the rebuild is expected to take. How could Iran refuse to host them? It has funded and supported pro-Hamas violence for years, including the most recent barbarity, all in support of Palestinians.
Iran deserves the Gazans, 70% of whom support Hamas. They are soul brothers, indeed. And Iran is responsible for their current state of distress.
Benefits to Iran would include a bit of much needed kudos from the international community, not least Trumpworld, which is crucial to Iran’s wellbeing.
Iran could also benefit financially (needed) thanks to payments made with international contributions to support the Gazan guests in Iran.
Iran (popn over 90 million) and the Gazan Palestinians (popn. approx. 2 million) are religiously, politically and culturally aligned, avoiding the risks of friction with the hosts. (Although all of them Muslim countries, Iran is predominantly Shi-ite, Egypt and Jordan are majority Sunni. These variations in the faith that are volatile. Gazans are part of the Shi-ite Muslims. These factors explain the refusal of Jordan and Egypt to host Gazans…asking for trouble.)
If we accept that Iran would find it virtually impossible to refuse to take the Gazans, and knowing that none of the Arab states are going to, what is the alternative? Some Gazans are already there: Western Sydney.