U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that "no one is forcing the people of Gaza to leave," marking a significant shift from his earlier proposal, which called for the relocation of approximately two million Palestinians to facilitate reconstruction and transform the devastated Strip into what he described as the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Speaking at a joint press conference with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, Trump emphasized, "No one is going to expel anyone from Gaza," walking back his initial proposal, which was widely condemned by Arab and international communities but welcomed by Israel.

For his part, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin reiterated calls for peace, stating, "We want the release of detainees and peace in Gaza," while emphasizing the need to solidify the ceasefire as international mediators push for talks on the next phase of the Gaza agreement.

While Trump has recently distanced himself from the displacement plan, Israel appears to be pressing forward with efforts to implement it.

Israeli Minister Pushes for Trump's Gaza Plan

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician, disclosed before the Knesset on Sunday the formation of parliamentary lobbying groups in both Israel and the United States aimed at advancing Trump's original proposal. The plan reportedly involves expelling between 5,000 and 10,000 Palestinians per day, effectively removing up to 1.8 million Gazans within a year.

Despite Smotrich's push, significant obstacles remain. Arab nations have unanimously rejected the plan, proposing an alternative vision focused on Gaza's reconstruction while ensuring its residents remain in place. This counterproposal was formally presented at the recent Arab League summit in Cairo.

Smotrich acknowledged the difficulties in executing the plan, admitting that its implementation would likely take considerable time. However, he insisted that the initiative could "change the entire region" if pursued successfully.

As tensions surrounding Gaza’s future persist, Trump's latest remarks signal a shift in U.S. rhetoric, but whether that translates into a definitive policy reversal remains to be seen.