The new U.S. president, Donald Trump, continues to make statements that are uniquely his own and shock the world. This was already expected, but his latest move truly showed that he doesn’t care even the slightest bit about the lives of people living outside the U.S. He’s the perfect example of a businessman blinded by greed. Then again, how much he values the lives of Americans is also debatable, as the new tariffs he has proposed will, according to experts, first hit the American middle class economically.The government, naturally, opposed Trump’s plan. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in his statement, said: “The issue of deportation is neither something the region nor we can accept. Even considering it is absurd. Even bringing it up for discussion is wrong.” Yes, even bringing it up for discussion is wrong. However, when I saw the term ‘deportation,’ it made me think. I went back 110 years. Is it possible not to remember 1915 when hearing these words?
What did Trump do? During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he stated that the U.S. would “take over governance” in Gaza and that the people living there should relocate elsewhere.
He explained his reasoning as follows: “The U.S. will take over and operate the Gaza Strip. We will take ownership of it, destroy unexploded bombs and weapons, level the area, and clear the rubble. We will create economic development and provide unlimited jobs and housing opportunities. We cannot go back (to the old order). If we do, what has been happening for the past 100 years will happen again.”
Trump is the most incorrigible representative of a ruthless capitalist system. He has always built his campaign arguments on this logic. According to this mindset, if there is a problem, it can easily be solved by paying for it or, in the simplest form, by eliminating it altogether.
His solution to the Palestinian issue is to remove the Palestinian people from Gaza. Naturally, this statement sparked outrage worldwide—especially in Palestine.
A statement from the office of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas declared that they “strongly reject calls to seize the Gaza Strip and expel Palestinians from their homeland” and emphasized that “the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people are not up for negotiation.”
Hussein al-Sheikh, the Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), an alliance of groups led by Abbas, stated that the PLO “rejects all calls for the expulsion of the Palestinian people from their homeland” and reiterated its support for a two-state solution.
Hamas leader Sami Abu Zuhri described Trump’s statement as “nonsense and absurd” and warned that such ideas could “set the region on fire.”
It’s absurd to even think that such a plan could be implemented. But at the same time, we’re living in such a strange era that we witnessed a genocide-like massacre in Gaza, and the world did nothing—or couldn’t do anything. After such a massive loss of life, a prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel is made. While this is a positive development, how can we forget that more than 40,000 Gazans lost their lives in just over a year?
Let’s turn to Turkey’s reaction. The government, naturally, opposed Trump’s plan. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in his statement, said: “The issue of deportation is neither something the region nor we can accept. Even considering it is absurd. Even bringing it up for discussion is wrong.”
Yes, even bringing it up for discussion is wrong. However, when I saw the term ‘deportation,’ it made me think. I went back 110 years. Is it possible not to remember 1915 when hearing these words?
What was the Turkey's “official view” about 1915? “It was not genocide; there was deportation under wartime conditions.”
Let’s not dive into the genocide issue this time. For the sake of this article, let’s focus on ‘deportation.’
Today, as Fidan stated, “deportation” is a situation that neither the region nor Turkey can accept. That’s fair, I agree. However, can Turkey say this from a historical perspective as well? On the other hand, when it comes to the peoples of these lands, have there been situations in history that could be considered “acceptable”?
I wholeheartedly wish for the Palestinian people to continue living freely and humanely in the lands they have inhabited for centuries, without being forcibly displaced. 110 years ago, the Armenians did not have such a chance.
(Translation: Deniz Kaya)