The destruction caused by the prolonged war has left Gaza without the basic foundations needed for normal civilian life. According to Dr. Martin Sherman, merely clearing the rubble could take years or even decades, while rebuilding reliable water, electricity and other essential infrastructure would require an enormous and sustained international effort.

Sherman argues that leaving Gaza’s population concentrated inside a devastated enclave is neither practical nor humane. In his assessment, President Donald Trump’s original proposal to relocate and resettle Gazans elsewhere reflected the reality that Gaza cannot offer its residents a viable future for the foreseeable future.

The greatest obstacle, he says, is Egypt. Unlike civilians in virtually every other modern conflict, Gazans have been prevented from fleeing the battlefield because Egypt has sealed its border. Cairo and Ankara publicly claim concern for Palestinians, yet the entire Gazan population would represent only a tiny addition to the combined populations of Egypt and Turkey.