In brief
President Trump's recent proposal to assume control of Gaza encounters substantial barriers, including legal implications and the perilous presence of unexploded ordnance. In light of the destructive military actions in the region, removing these dangers becomes a pressing concern.
After months of intense conflict, unexploded bombs left in Gaza present an ongoing risk to safety within the area. During his announcement to potentially occupy Gaza, Trump indicated the need to address these unexploded munitions, stating, "We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site."However, Trump's contemplation of deploying U.S. military forces for this purpose faces legal restrictions, as U.S. law prohibits soldiers from conducting demining operations. This responsibility typically falls on the State Department, which allocates funds to non-governmental organizations tasked with munitions clearance.On January 25, a significant complication arose when the State Department issued a halt to all operations by nonprofit organizations involved in demining efforts worldwide, including those that would likely assist in the post-conflict de-mining of Gaza. This order raises critical questions regarding the feasibility of Trump's plans and the safety of those who might return to the war-torn area.Given that nearly 30,000 munitions were deployed within the first weeks of hostilities, the cleanup of unexploded ordnance is an urgently required next step. Without addressing these obstacles, the administration's ambitions for Gaza may struggle to materialize.
