Western Sahara as potential new home for displaced Gazans?

In the ongoing search for a lasting solution in the Middle East, a unique proposition has emerged: the resettlement of Gazans in Western Sahara. This plan, which has gained traction due to Morocco's pragmatic flexibility and its role as a guardian of Jerusalem's Muslim identity, could offer a viable path towards peace and stability.

The resettlement of Gazans in Western Sahara is politically and socially unfeasible for Europe and the United States due to the presence of past and present Hamas sympathizers. However, Israel could potentially collaborate with Morocco to export its expertise in agriculture, tourism infrastructure, and solar energy to Western Sahara, aiding Gazans' integration into the region.

Western Sahara, a desert territory along the Atlantic Ocean, bordered by Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania, is rich in phosphates, fisheries, solar potential, and land suitable for agriculture and tourism. Despite being underdeveloped and underpopulated, Western Sahara is the center of an international dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front.

Morocco's resettlement of Gazans in Western Sahara could strengthen Morocco's demographic presence in the region. This move could also relieve pressure in the Middle East and boost Morocco's role as a stabilizing power in North Africa. The benefits of absorbing Gazans into Western Sahara could include reducing militancy and hostility towards Jews, as Gazans focus on building lives in a new land.

The relocation of Gazans to Western Sahara could earn Morocco unparalleled respect in the world, making it the center of a new humanitarian narrative. A new Gazan workforce could contribute to economic development in Western Sahara, turning desert into farmland, building towns, and energizing industries. This strategic investment could potentially power a Moroccan economic miracle, with President Trump rewarding Morocco with preferential import duties.

The plan could defuse the conflict in the Levant by demographic relocation, benefiting Morocco, Israel, and the international community. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Gulf states have all rejected the idea of absorbing large numbers of Gazans due to fears of destabilization and Islamist militancy. As a result, Morocco, with its control of Western Sahara increasingly recognized internationally, is seen as the most credible destination for resettling Gazans.

Gaza's population is two million people, who desperately need a place to rebuild their lives. The resettlement in Western Sahara could provide them with this opportunity, while also addressing the ongoing conflict in the region. This proposed solution, while not charity, is a strategic investment that could bring about peace and prosperity for all involved.

Rafael Castro, an independent political analyst, graduate of Yale and Hebrew University, can be reached at [email protected] for further discussion on this topic. It is a complex issue with multiple facets, but one that could potentially offer a path towards a more peaceful and prosperous future for all parties involved.