A Palestinian Christian’s Perspective on Trump’s Plan to ‘Own Gaza’

Amid the fragile ceasefire, the exchange of hostages, and the temporary pause in Israel’s genocidal onslaught against Gazans, nearly six hundred Christians huddle together in one of Gaza’s battered churches, their prayers rising above the rubble as a defiant testament to their faith and resilience. Among them, Gazan Christian George Antone boldly declares, “For us, as Christians, we are not leaving Gaza. We will remain in Gaza and help people in Gaza reconstruct their houses, rebuild the streets. Yes, we will stay in Gaza. We are not leaving.”

Antone’s words stand in stark contrast to the explosive press conference at the White House on Feb. 4, when President Donald Trump brazenly suggested that the United States should “effectively own” Gaza, proposing to turn it into a real estate venture while displacing Palestinians from their homeland and relocating them to neighboring countries. In the days since Trump’s comments, people from his administration have attempted to downplay such a proposal. Trump, for his part, has reiterated this plan to take Gaza since he initially floated the plan in early February.

Such remarks reflect a dangerous mindset rooted in geopolitical strategies that often reduce entire populations to obstacles rather than recognizing them as people with dignity and history.

For many in Gaza, Trump’s words echoed the chilling sentiments of Israel’s founding father, David Ben-Gurion, who wrote to his son Amos on October 5, 1937, “We must expel Arabs and take their place.” This rhetoric isn’t just inflammatory; it normalizes dehumanization and deepens the wounds of those already suffering.

At this pivotal juncture, the church must recognize the spiritual and moral urgency to speak out against mass displacement. The church’s mission has always been to stand with the oppressed, to speak truth to power, and to reflect the heart of God through the words and ministry of Jesus, who grieved over injustice and called for compassion.

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I witnessed this same spirit of prophetic boldness when I stood on stage at the MissionConnexion Conference in Portland, Ore. on Jan. 18, alongside my friend Dan Sered, the chief operating officer of Jews for Jesus, a nonprofit organization that is made up of Jews who believe that Jesus is the messiah, as well as other followers of Jesus who are committed allies of the Jewish people. We addressed hundreds of church leaders from over 100 mission organizations, urging them to rise above political divides and even theological disagreements regarding the end times. In a powerful moment, Dan prayed for Palestinians, and I prayed for Israelis — a simple yet profound act that demonstrated our shared conviction: The gospel of Jesus Christ transcends national narratives, political boundaries, and historical grievances. This was not a symbolic gesture; it was a theological declaration that the church’s allegiance is to the kingdom of God, not to the transient powers of this world.

The situation in Gaza is deeply tragic. As reported by Al Jazeera, over 17,000 children have been killed since the Oct. 7 attacks, with thousands more orphaned. The latest Lancet report estimates that 64,260 people have been killed as a result of the war. Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site.” Despite the fragile ceasefire, violence against Palestinian civilians continues in the West Bank, underscoring the region’s ongoing instability. This conflict has made it clear that there is no military solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, and forcible displacement cannot be a viable path forward.

In my current role as the founder and CEO of Levant Ministries, a nonprofit organization focused on reaching the next generation with the gospel in the Middle East, I have been organizing with partners and friends to deliver relief and food to Gazans amid the devastating impacts of war. It’s clear that if given the option to remain in Gaza or go elsewhere, the vast majority of Gazans would choose to return to their original homes in Jaffa and other cities from which they were uprooted after the Nakba in 1948.

The story of Palestine is not just about borders and territorial disputes; it is about human dignity, the right to exist, and the sacredness of life. The voices of Palestinian Christians are not peripheral to this narrative — they are central. Our experiences are living testimonies of resilience, challenging the global church to move beyond passive observation and move toward active engagement: caring for orphans and widows, advocating for the oppressed, and standing in solidarity with the suffering.

The church’s response cannot stop at words. In the face of such devastation, our commitment must be evident through our actions. As our ministry teams serve on the ground in Palestine, I see the urgent need for sustained support — whether through providing food, shelter, and medical aid or by amplifying voices that call for policies rooted in justice and human dignity. This work goes hand in hand with our prayers, standing in spiritual solidarity with Palestinian Christians in Gaza and the West Bank who embody the gospel’s hope amid despair. Palestinian Christians’ enduring faith in Christ is a living testimony and it should urge the global church to respond with both compassion and conviction.

In the face of policies and rhetoric that dehumanize, displace, and destroy, the world is watching and waiting for the church to be bold in advocating for an end to the occupation. We must declare that no land is more sacred than the people who live on it, and no political agenda is more important than the lives it affects. The call of Christ compels us to be peacemakers, advocates for justice, and voices for the voiceless. To remain silent is to betray the very gospel we proclaim.

The world may see Gaza as a demolition site, but the church sees it as a fertile ground for the gospel. We believe that God will breathe life into Gaza. By anchoring our response in the gospel, we affirm that every person — Palestinian and Israeli — is created in the image of God and deserves to live with dignity, safety, and hope.

This is not merely an idealistic stance. Rather, it is a gospel imperative. We must use our voices to proclaim this gospel imperative and remember that silence in the face of injustice is complicity, and such complicity hinders the progress of the gospel. We must use our voices to remind the church that it cannot claim to follow Christ while ignoring the cries of the oppressed. We must use our voices to remind everyone that in a world fractured by conflict and hatred, the gospel remains the most powerful force for peace, reconciliation, and hope.