Donald Trump plans to relocate 2 million Gazans to Indonesia – Here's why

Trump's transition team is exploring a controversial proposal to temporarily relocate some of Gaza's two million residents during post-war reconstruction efforts, with Indonesia named as a potential host country, according to an NBC News report published Saturday.

Recent assessments paint a grim picture of widespread devastation in Gaza:

Overall, 60% of structures across the entire Gaza Strip have been damaged or destroyed. October estimates counted 128,000 damaged buildings - a number that has since grown significantly.

Ongoing Concerns

Health officials warn that the widespread destruction poses serious public health risks. Rubble from thousands of collapsed structures has released hazardous materials, including asbestos, into the air and potentially into water supplies. Recovery efforts face additional challenges with reports of thousands of bodies still buried in the rubble.

"The Gaza Strip has essentially become a 360-square-kilometer demolition site," notes one observer who recently assessed the damage. "The scenes are apocalyptic."

Trump's proposal, revealed by a single unnamed transition official, faces significant skepticism. Regional nations have consistently opposed accepting Palestinian refugees, concerned about enabling a new refugee crisis. Many Palestinians fear they would be barred from returning to Gaza if they leave.

In the same report, NBC News disclosed that incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is considering visiting Gaza to oversee the implementation of the ceasefire agreement set to begin Sunday. "You got to see it, you got to feel it," the transition official explained, suggesting Witkoff needs firsthand experience rather than relying solely on Israeli accounts.

Given the deal's fragility, Witkoff plans to maintain a constant regional presence. The official noted concerns about potential sabotage: "There are radicals and fanatics on both sides - not just Hamas, but also from Israel's right wing - who are motivated to derail this agreement."

NBC also reported that American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel is scheduled for release on Day 14 of the ceasefire, though this detail remains unconfirmed by Israeli media sources.

Kikar HaShabbat and Times of Israel contributed to this article.