CAIR Urges President Trump to Renounce Reported Plan to Relocate One Million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya
Civil Rights Groups, Lawmakers, and International Community React to Alleged U.S. Proposal
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, has called on President Donald Trump to publicly renounce what it describes as an “insane” and “morally reprehensible” plan to forcibly relocate up to one million Palestinians from Gaza to Libya. The call comes after multiple media outlets reported that the Trump administration is considering a proposal to permanently transfer a significant portion of Gaza’s population to the North African country, a move CAIR and other groups have condemned as ethnic cleansing.
Reports of Forced Relocation Surface
According to a report published by NBC News on May 16, 2025, five individuals familiar with the matter stated that the Trump administration is seriously considering a plan to relocate as many as one million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Libya. Discussions have reportedly occurred between U.S. officials and Libyan leaders, although no final agreement has been reached. The plan, as described by sources, would involve the U.S. releasing billions of dollars in frozen funds to Libya in exchange for accepting the Palestinians.
A spokesperson for the Trump administration denied the reports, telling NBC News, “These reports are untrue. The situation on the ground is untenable for such a plan. Such a plan was not discussed and makes no sense.” Despite the denial, the seriousness of the discussions was underscored by the involvement of Libyan officials and the potential financial incentives on the table.
CAIR’s Strong Condemnation
CAIR responded swiftly and forcefully to the reports. In a statement, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said:
“If this news report that the Trump administration truly is plotting the forced transfer of one million Palestinians from their homeland in Gaza to Libya is true, this plan would represent an unprecedented act of ethnic cleansing unseen in modern history. This is morally reprehensible and a historic crime against humanity. It is a slap in the face to all the Arab leaders President Trump just met. Any country or entity that takes part in this war crime would rightly face universal condemnation. No Arab or Muslim nation, and no person of conscience of any background, should entertain this insane idea. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people who live there.”
Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director (CAIR Press Release, May 17, 2025)
CAIR further urged President Trump to demand an end to what it called Israel’s “war of annihilation” in Gaza, rather than seeking ways to facilitate the displacement of its population.
Broader Civil Society Outcry
The reported plan has sparked widespread condemnation from civil rights organizations, faith-based groups, and advocacy networks. More than 70 U.S. organizations, including CAIR, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), CODEPINK, Peace Action, and the US Council of Muslim Organizations (USCMO), sent a letter to President Trump urging him to abandon the proposal. The letter warned:
“Put simply, the ethnic cleansing and U.S. occupation of Gaza would spark a massive backlash in the Arab and Muslim world, drain American resources by entangling the U.S. military in new forever wars, and make the peaceful establishment of a Palestinian state impossible, leading to even more conflict in the region.”
Letter from 70+ U.S. civil rights groups (Anadolu Agency, Feb. 15, 2025)
The groups emphasized that “Gaza is not a ‘big real estate site’ that can go to the highest bidder. It is a land that millions of Palestinians have called home for generations.” They called on the administration to focus on rebuilding Gaza and pursuing a permanent ceasefire instead of displacement.
Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe
The backdrop to these developments is a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the United Nations, nearly two million of Gaza’s residents have been displaced since the escalation of hostilities following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. The enclave faces acute food, water, and medicine shortages, with international agencies warning of imminent famine.
Israel’s military campaign has resulted in over 53,000 deaths, the majority of whom are women and children, according to CAIR and corroborated by humanitarian organizations. The Israeli government has maintained a blockade on Gaza for years, severely restricting movement and access to necessities.
Human Rights Watch recently described Israel’s total blockade of Gaza as “a tool of extermination,” and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) reported systematic abuse and torture of Gaza detainees in Israeli prisons.
International and Regional Reactions
The reported U.S. plan has not only drawn criticism from civil society but has also raised concerns among regional actors. Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, stated it was unaware of any such discussions and reiterated that "Palestinians are deeply rooted in their homeland, committed to it, and prepared to fight to the end and make sacrifices to protect their land, families, and children's future," according to Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official, speaking to NBC News.
Israel has reportedly been kept informed about the administration’s talks, though no official response has been issued by Israeli authorities or Libya’s rival governments. The proposal has also prompted a Senate resolution, signed by 28 senators, calling for the Trump administration to prioritize ending Israel’s blockade and supporting humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Feasibility and Implications
Experts and officials have raised significant doubts about the feasibility of relocating one million people to Libya. This country has been mired in chaos and division since the 2011 civil war and the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi. Libya remains lawless, mainly, and it is unclear where the Palestinians would be settled or how they would be transported.
A U.S. official told NBC News that incentives such as free housing and financial stipends have been discussed to encourage Palestinians to leave Gaza. Still, the logistical and ethical challenges are immense.
Lawmakers and Human Rights Advocates Respond
In addition to civil society, members of Congress have begun to weigh in on the issue. CAIR welcomed a Senate resolution urging an end to the blockade and war on Gaza, and called on House members to support H.Res. 409, introduced by Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), which recognizes the 77th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba and affirms the rights of Palestinian refugees.
The pressure on lawmakers to respond to the unfolding situation continues to mount as advocacy groups warn of the long-term consequences of forced displacement and the undermining of prospects for peace in the region.
Statistics and Humanitarian Impact
Over 53,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the recent conflict, with the majority being women and children, according to CAIR and humanitarian organizations.
Nearly two million of Gaza’s population, approximately 85%, have been displaced, according to the United Nations.
The enclave faces severe shortages of food, water, and medicine, with international agencies warning of a looming famine.
Israel’s blockade has been described as the world’s largest open-air prison by multiple human rights groups.
Uncertainty and Calls for Accountability
As the Trump administration denies the existence of a formal plan, the controversy has intensified scrutiny of U.S. policy in the Middle East and its impact on Palestinian civilians. Civil rights groups call for transparency, accountability, and a renewed commitment to humanitarian principles.
CAIR has urged elected officials to speak out against what it describes as a “clear genocidal plan” to “flatten and occupy” Gaza, warning that silence would be tantamount to complicity in a historic crime.
“The Trump administration should be demanding that the Israeli government end its war of annihilation, not try to find new ways to help Netanyahu finish off the Palestinian people.”
Nihad Awad, CAIR National Executive Director (CAIR Press Release, May 17, 2025)
The coming weeks are likely to see further debate in Congress, increased advocacy from civil society, and continued international attention on the plight of Palestinians in Gaza. The outcome of these discussions will have profound implications for the region's future and its prospects for peace.