A Saudi Shura Council member has strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump's reported proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, suggesting instead that transferring Israelis to Alaska and Greenland would be a better solution for Middle Eastern security.
Trump has allegedly mentioned evicting Palestinians from Gaza on multiple occasions, claiming he would launch a massive renovation project to transform the enclave into "the Riviera of the Middle East." His remarks have sparked widespread condemnation from several major Arab, European, and other countries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded with irony, suggesting that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their homeland, dismissing the idea of Palestinian sovereignty.
"The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there," Netanyahu stated.
In response, Shura Council member Yousef bin Trad Al-Saadoun wrote in an article for the Saudi newspaper Okaz:
"If he (Trump) truly wants to be a hero of peace and achieve stability and prosperity for the Middle East, he should relocate his beloved Israelis to the state of Alaska and then to Greenland—after annexing it."
Al-Saadoun also urged Palestinians to remain united, warning that "the worst is yet to come."
He dismissed Netanyahu's remarks and reaffirmed that Palestinians, Arab nations, and many other governments worldwide—including Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom—have strongly condemned Trump's idea.
"The Zionists and their allies must realize they will not succeed in dragging the Saudi leadership into media traps and false political pressures," he asserted.
The Saudi official also criticized Trump's decision-making, arguing that poor choices stem from individuals who "ignore accumulated knowledge and expertise" and refuse to consult experts. He further accused Washington of blindly following Israel's policies.
"The official foreign policy of the United States now appears to endorse the illegal occupation of sovereign land and the ethnic cleansing of its population – both of which are Israeli methods and constitute crimes against humanity," he claimed.
The Saudi Shura Council, whose members are appointed by the king, serves as an advisory body on policy and legislation. While it has no legislative power, it focuses on reviewing laws, economic programs, and social policies.