NPR’s Scott Detrow speaks with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, Normal Secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative, about President Trump’s proposal for the US to take management of the Gaza Strip.
SCOTT DETROW, HOST:
Even judging by the requirements that he set throughout his time on the Nationwide stage, President Donald Trump’s assertion this previous week that the U.S. would take possession of the Gaza Strip was surprising. Throughout a press convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated the 2 leaders had talked about relocating some 1.8 million Palestinians and leveling then completely rebuilding Gaza.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we’ll do a job with it, too. We’ll personal it.
DETROW: The announcement drew condemnation from leaders around the globe, and a few senior Trump aides have tried to stroll again elements of the plan. However ought to the plan or one thing prefer it go ahead, Gaza would change, as would its relationship with the opposite Palestinian territory, the West Financial institution.
For one perspective on this, we have now referred to as Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, who’s a political chief within the West Financial institution. He is the overall secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. He joins us now from Ramallah within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution. Welcome to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED.
MUSTAFA BARGHOUTI: Thanks a lot. Thanks.
DETROW: You, together with others – you publicly condemned President Trump’s proposal. I am curious. How are you and your colleagues in West Financial institution management speaking about this this week? What are you eager about?
BARGHOUTI: Effectively, as I stated in a number of interviews, President Trump’s proposal isn’t just damaging to the potential for peace on this area, however it’s truly additionally legal.
DETROW: How so?
BARGHOUTI: As a result of what he referred to as for are two battle crimes – the primary crime is that he referred to as for ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian individuals who reside in Gaza, who’re a part of the Palestinian individuals on the whole. And second, he referred to as for the theft of the land of Gaza Strip and to take it over. This land belongs to the individuals who reside there, belongs to the individuals who lived there for 1000’s of years and who’ve their goals, their historical past, their civilization, their belongings, and he simply need to take it over.
DETROW: As is usually the case when President Trump makes a press release like this, there was loads of evaluation that maybe he did not truly imply that, however maybe he was attempting to set the framework for negotiations to result in some form of end result. You, as someone very near this difficulty – I am questioning what you make of that evaluation and that considering and simply form of, once more, what the conversations you’ve got had with different leaders are about what comes subsequent now that this proposal is on the market.
BARGHOUTI: We’re speaking in regards to the president of the USA. I do not suppose he jokes when he speaks. And we’re speaking about probably the most highly effective nation on the planet. To be advocate of violation of worldwide regulation in such a way is admittedly shameful.
DETROW: What, to you, is one of the best different? What, to you, is one of the best path ahead in Gaza? – as a result of there isn’t any query there was widespread destruction in Gaza. A lot has been leveled, destroyed. So many individuals have died. How would you rebuild?
BARGHOUTI: For my part, the choice is, to start with, to be sure that the ceasefire shall proceed, that Israel wouldn’t be allowed to return to battle, after which there needs to be a global Arab Muslim coalition that would offer help to the individuals of Gaza to reconstruct and rebuild Gaza and provoke a real peace strategy answer that permits Palestinians to be free from this horrible occupation so that everyone can take pleasure in safety, whether or not we’re speaking about Palestinians or Israelis.
DETROW: At this second in time, who’s answerable for Gaza? Who do you suppose ought to have the duty to rebuild, to plan for its future? – as a result of in case you take a look at public help within the Gaza strip, it looks as if many individuals there would love Hamas to stay in cost.
BARGHOUTI: I do know, however Hamas advised us frankly and brazenly and clearly, in our conferences of all Palestinian teams which happened in Beijing, that they’re able to – to not be within the authorities of Gaza and to not be the federal government of Gaza. And the answer is straightforward. I personally drafted it in settlement with all of the representatives of the 14 events, which is to create a nationwide consensus Palestinian authorities, which consists primarily of impartial professionals who will probably be accepted by all people and will probably be cooperated with by all people.
However it is going to be a authorities for each West Financial institution and Gaza in order that no one would separate Gaza from the West Financial institution and proceed to kill the concept of a Palestinian impartial state, so a nationwide consensus authorities that might ultimately put together without spending a dime democratic elections which we did not have since 20 years. And I guarantee you, if we have now elections – we’re utilizing proportional system, so if we have now elections, no single get together could have majority. That is for positive. All polls present that.
So in my view, that is the answer, a nationwide consensus authorities. And no one needs to proceed this battle. No person needs to return to battle. And this authorities will be accountable, in cooperation with the Arab governments and hopefully with many individuals within the worldwide neighborhood, of reconstructing Gaza and rebuilding it. After which, in my view, the entire world should train stress on Israel to finish occupation. That is the street, the trail, that was by no means tried, ending occupation and permitting Palestinians to be free from occupation and construct our personal future independently with freedom.
DETROW: For those who might converse on to President Trump proper now, what would you say to him?
BARGHOUTI: I’d say to him, if you wish to get Nobel Peace Prize, the street is straightforward. Stress Israel to finish occupation. Permit Palestinians to be free. You’re most welcome to deliver worldwide troops if you’d like and put them on the borders between the Palestinian state and Israel to offer safety for everyone. Then you will get Nobel Peace Prize. However in case you proceed to advocate ethnic cleaning of the Palestinian individuals, of Gaza, and proceed to be completely biased to Israel in the way in which and method you’re, you can be described in historical past as a battle legal, not as a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
I will probably be frank with him. I feel he likes individuals to be sincere and frank with him. It is both peace by ending Israeli occupation and permitting Palestinians to have self-determination and freedom, or it is battle crime. That’s the actuality of what we see right this moment.
DETROW: That is Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, common secretary of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative and a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Thanks a lot.
BARGHOUTI: Thanks. Take care.
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