Trump and the Tragedies in Gaza
By: Prof. Dr. Ali Mohiuddin Al-Qaradaghi
President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars
One would have expected Trump’s heart to have been moved by mercy after witnessing the immense tragedies in Gaza.
However, his actions and executive orders suggest otherwise. Trump has surpassed even Biden in his support for the Israeli occupation. He issued an executive order allowing the transfer of one-ton bombs to the occupation forces and ordered the expulsion of any student who expresses support for Hamas.
Furthermore, he attempted to facilitate the forced displacement of our steadfast people in Gaza—who have demonstrated patience more towering than mountains—towards Egypt and Jordan. This attempt was met with great approval and admiration from the extremist Zionist right, particularly Bezalel Smotrich and his allies.
Many had hoped that Trump’s heart might have retained some trace of human compassion for the women, children, sick, and elderly—tens of thousands of whom have been killed, while the rest have endured unimaginable suffering for over 15 months. Their homes, mosques, churches, and hospitals have been obliterated. The occupation has spared nothing.
Yet, astonishingly, these far-right figures have turned a blind eye to this immense human suffering, standing instead with oppression and destruction. Are their hearts as hard as stone?
Allah answers this question in the Quran:
"Then your hearts became hardened after that, being like stones or even harder. For indeed, there are stones from which rivers burst forth, and some of them split open and water comes out, and others fall down from the fear of Allah. And Allah is not unaware of what you do." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:74)
This lack of compassion was evident even before. On January 22, 2020, Rev. Budde, from the Washington National Cathedral, pleaded with Trump for mercy, saying:
"In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy on the people in our country who are living in fear right now."
Trump responded the very next day by insulting her, labeling her "an extremist and highly disrespectful person."
During his first presidency, Trump had already experienced failure with his so-called "Deal of the Century", which became infamous as "the Slap of the Century", as it failed to achieve his desired results.
We, alongside all fair-minded individuals, are convinced that the attempt to displace our people in Gaza will fail. These heroic men and women have etched history with their sacrifice, resilience, and endurance, bearing unimaginable suffering for over fifteen months. Would they now abandon their homeland, knowing that if they left, they would never return—just as their fellow Palestinians were prevented from returning since 1948?
Furthermore, we are confident that Egypt and Jordan—proud nations with deep-rooted dignity—will never accept such a dangerous proposal. If it were implemented, the next step would be the forced displacement of the West Bank’s population into Jordan.
Thus, I call upon the Arab and Muslim nations to stand firmly with their brothers and sisters in Gaza, as well as with Egypt and Jordan, in absolute rejection of this plan. We must also pressure Trump to abandon this reckless attempt. This is a religious obligation, a national duty, and a strategic necessity that must not be compromised.
Additionally, the Arab and Muslim nations must demand that the United Nations, human rights organizations, and international bodies take a stand against the forced displacement of an entire people—an act that violates all divine laws, international laws, ethics, and human values.
And Allah is our refuge and helper.
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Disclaimer: All published articles express the views of their authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the International Union of Muslim Scholars.