The ideal of remaining on one’s land despite threats of expulsion is at the heart of the Palestinians’ struggle and self-identity, and was on vivid display last week when hundreds of thousands returned to northern Gaza despite its near-total destruction.

In interviews, some Palestinians said they would rather leave Gaza, given the inescapable devastation — but the decision was theirs, not Trump’s, to make.

Palestinian militant group Hamas has rejected proposals put forward by U.S. President Donald Trump to displace Gaza's population from the enclave, vowing the organization "will not allow these plans to pass.