Peloni: This plan is highly problematic. Libya’s civil war which broke out in the wake of the NATO war to eliminate Gaddafi, is still not resolved, with fighting being reported to have broken out most recently in the past few days. With Haftar’s LNA controlling about two thirds of the country, including Benghazi, and the GNU holding only about a third of the country, the influx of a million Gazans would significantly impact the balance of power in Libya, most notably to the likely benefit of the GNU which is backed by both Qatar and Turkey. Note that while Libya has a population of about 11 million, only a portion of this number is allied with the GNU, which would make the influx of one million Gazans into that country all the more significant. In other words, if the GNU represented 6-7 million Libyans, the massive influx of a million Gazans would lead to them, as a group, representing a significant portion of the population of the GNU supporters. Relevantly, Egypt has a population of some 118 million people, but the Sisi govt fears the radicalizing repercussions of the influx of just one million Gazans into this number, and yet, it is being contemplated that these Gazans should be sent to Libya where they will be a million out of less the 10million supporters of the GNU.
Importantly, the immigration of the million Gazans into Libya would also serve to further strengthen another element of Turkey’s increasing range of control in the region. More than this, the Jihadist ideology of the Gazans will be left unchecked to influence the population under the control of the GNU in such a way as to increase the power and influence of the already existing radical Jihadist groups present among the GNU.
This realignment of the situation in Libya towards increasing the power Sunni radical axis would be significant, as even though Libya is about a 1000km from Israel, should the Gazan influx into Libya lead to the GNU becoming more radicalized and possibly dominating the country, if not completely conquering it, Libya’s oil revenue would leave the GNU with a significant source of wealth, and with the prominent membership of the million Gazans, along with the backing of the Qatar and Turkey, it would leave this radicalized leadership of Libya with the financial means by which to pursue fantasies of revisiting October 7 again and again.
It would be far better for the Gazans to go to a place where they might be controlled, where their psychopathic ideology will not be left free to manipulate the nation to which they are emigrating, and where any attempt for them to spread or act on their ideology would be met with a significant response. Note that the smaller the population of the nation in question, the greater will be the influence of the psychotic Gazans, which is one of the main dilemmas which is not addressed in the Libya plan, but which is addressed in the Jordan Option which would prohibit the exercise of preaching of Islamist ideology present among the Gazans. Mudar Zahran made this point, and its relevance, quite clear in several interviews he has given over the past many months.
Kuldeep Negi | Swarajya| May 17, 2025
(Photo by Voice of America – VOA News, Public Domain)
The Donald Trump administration in the United Staes is reportedly weighing a proposal to permanently resettle as many as one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya, NBC News reported, citing five sources familiar with the matter.
According to the report, the plan is being seriously considered, with diplomatic-level talks already taking place between the US and Libya.
As part of the deal, the US would reportedly unfreeze billions of dollars in Libyan assets held since the early 2010s in return for accepting the relocated Palestinians.
“No final agreement has been reached, and Israel has been kept informed of the administration’s discussions,” the report said.
A US government spokesperson, however, denied the report, stating, “These reports are untrue,” and added that the current situation on the ground is “untenable” for such a plan.
“Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense,” the spokesperson added.
Libya has remained in chaos since the 2011 NATO-backed toppling of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi, resulting in competing eastern and western governments supported by armed factions.
According to NBC News, Palestinian terror outfit Hamas’ Basem Naim claimed the the US-designated terrorist group was unaware of any relocation talks.
The details of when or how any plan to relocate Palestinians to Libya could be implemented are murky, and an effort to resettle up to 1 million people there would likely face significant obstacles, according to the report.
Cost remains a major hurdle, and it’s uncertain how funding would be arranged by the Trump administration.
Though the Trump administration had earlier suggested Arab states would aid Gaza’s recovery, many have criticized the idea of permanent relocation.
The administration has also explored using Libya as a destination for some immigrants it wants to deport, though a recent attempt was blocked by a federal judge.
Relocating such a large number could destabilise Libya further, given its already fragile internal structure.
With Libya’s population at roughly 7.36 million, absorbing an additional million Palestinians would be akin to the US suddenly taking in 46 million people.
A former US official confirmed that no specific resettlement zones within Libya have been chosen. Transport options including land, air, and sea routes are reportedly all under review.
Gazans are going to be a problem no matter where they end up. They are, after all, “wild asses” of men (and women). So it’s best to get them as far away from Israel as possible. Libya sounds like a great place. They must NOT go to Egypt (Sissi’s fears are well founded), or to Jordan, or to Syria, or to Lebanon. If they were transferred to Libya, however, many of them may just continue on to Europe. That would be such sweet karma. So, for moving them to Libya, I vote a big, beautiful, YES.
Completely impossible. Given the carefully curated casualty figures released by Hamas, the Israelis have already gloatingly killed the entire population of Gaza several times over.