Palestinian Exile Karam Alakklouk Reacts to Trump's Controversial Gaza Proposal
Karam Alakklouk, who fled Gaza for Australia, expresses deep concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to 'take over' the Gaza Strip.
Karam Alakklouk, a Palestinian refugee residing in Australia, has voiced his distress regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's recent statements about the Gaza Strip.
Alakklouk, who fled Gaza with his wife and five-year-old son just days before the Rafah crossing closed in May 2023, described the struggle of seeking safety while leaving family behind in the besieged enclave.
He stated, 'You cannot imagine the struggle of going to a safe place, leaving your whole family back, where every day there's a chance that it'll be the last day that you can talk to them.'
Trump’s proposal, announced during a press conference where he indicated intentions to 'take over' Gaza and transform it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East,' has generated significant concern among Palestinians and international observers.
Trump's remarks were made alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he reportedly suggested forcibly relocating Palestinians from their homeland.
This assertion has drawn criticism, with experts indicating that such actions could be classified as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Alakklouk articulated his inability to process Trump's comments, saying, 'It's our land.
It's our memories.
It's our bond with the soil of that land.' Rasha Abbas, founder of Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA), reported that Trump's words have exacerbated trauma within the Palestinian community, which has endured repeated displacements and conflicts.
Since the escalation of hostilities after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted extensive military operations in Gaza, which has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza's health ministry.
The ongoing violence has left many families grappling with loss and uncertainty.
Another anonymous member of the Palestinian community in Australia expressed a steadfast commitment to their rights and dreams of returning to their homeland, asserting that neither Trump nor anyone else would succeed in forcing them to abandon their cause.
Alakklouk shared his experience of having lived through several conflicts in Gaza, including the most recent one which claimed the homes of family members.
He emphasized the hope of returning to Gaza, stating, 'Palestinians are rooted in their heritage and their history in Palestine.'
He recently arrived in Australia on a government scholarship to study for a master's degree in engineering and described the approval of his scholarship amidst the ongoing war as a 'miracle.' He hopes one day to return to Gaza to contribute to its reconstruction but is uncertain about the future of his homeland amidst ongoing conflict.
Abbas noted that PARA supports approximately 1,600 Palestinian migrants and refugees in Australia.
Many community members spoke of their sorrow regarding Trump's remarks, lamenting that their exile was borne out of necessity rather than choice and expressing a collective hope for eventual return to their homeland.
As the conflict continues, the Palestinian diaspora remains engaged in advocating for their rights, with individuals like Alakklouk and Abbas emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and historical ties to the land.
Alakklouk concluded with a statement reflecting the hope of many Palestinians, saying, 'Those two million are outside, waiting for the moment that they have the right to return to their homeland.'
Alakklouk, who fled Gaza with his wife and five-year-old son just days before the Rafah crossing closed in May 2023, described the struggle of seeking safety while leaving family behind in the besieged enclave.
He stated, 'You cannot imagine the struggle of going to a safe place, leaving your whole family back, where every day there's a chance that it'll be the last day that you can talk to them.'
Trump’s proposal, announced during a press conference where he indicated intentions to 'take over' Gaza and transform it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East,' has generated significant concern among Palestinians and international observers.
Trump's remarks were made alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and he reportedly suggested forcibly relocating Palestinians from their homeland.
This assertion has drawn criticism, with experts indicating that such actions could be classified as war crimes under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Alakklouk articulated his inability to process Trump's comments, saying, 'It's our land.
It's our memories.
It's our bond with the soil of that land.' Rasha Abbas, founder of Palestine Australia Relief and Action (PARA), reported that Trump's words have exacerbated trauma within the Palestinian community, which has endured repeated displacements and conflicts.
Since the escalation of hostilities after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted extensive military operations in Gaza, which has resulted in over 47,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza's health ministry.
The ongoing violence has left many families grappling with loss and uncertainty.
Another anonymous member of the Palestinian community in Australia expressed a steadfast commitment to their rights and dreams of returning to their homeland, asserting that neither Trump nor anyone else would succeed in forcing them to abandon their cause.
Alakklouk shared his experience of having lived through several conflicts in Gaza, including the most recent one which claimed the homes of family members.
He emphasized the hope of returning to Gaza, stating, 'Palestinians are rooted in their heritage and their history in Palestine.'
He recently arrived in Australia on a government scholarship to study for a master's degree in engineering and described the approval of his scholarship amidst the ongoing war as a 'miracle.' He hopes one day to return to Gaza to contribute to its reconstruction but is uncertain about the future of his homeland amidst ongoing conflict.
Abbas noted that PARA supports approximately 1,600 Palestinian migrants and refugees in Australia.
Many community members spoke of their sorrow regarding Trump's remarks, lamenting that their exile was borne out of necessity rather than choice and expressing a collective hope for eventual return to their homeland.
As the conflict continues, the Palestinian diaspora remains engaged in advocating for their rights, with individuals like Alakklouk and Abbas emphasizing the importance of cultural heritage and historical ties to the land.
Alakklouk concluded with a statement reflecting the hope of many Palestinians, saying, 'Those two million are outside, waiting for the moment that they have the right to return to their homeland.'
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