Albania has no obligation – legal, moral or strategic – to accept 100.000 Palestinians forcibly expelled from Gaza. Accepting such a plan would make Albania complicit in human rights abuses, damage its international relations and create major security risks. Most importantly, this action would solve nothing – on the contrary, it would create the illusion of a solution without creating the necessary conditions for a lasting peace.
By Medlir MEMA
International media have reported in recent days that US President Donald Trump has proposed relocating 100,000 Palestinians from Gaza. Among the various countries proposed as a possible destination for them, Trump has proposed Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, and most recently, Albania. Prime Minister Edi Rama has denied the veracity of this news. However, the serious ethical, legal, and geopolitical concerns that this development could bring to Albania, require an immediate political, institutional, and social response.
The idea of displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, while presented as a humanitarian gesture, in reality creates a dangerous precedent that legitimizes forced displacement and does nothing to resolve the underlying crisis in Gaza. If Albania accepts such a proposal, it would become a collaborator in an effort that violates international conventions, while exposing itself to political, social and security risks.
LEGAL AND GEOPOLITICAL RISKS FOR ALBANIA
The forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza is not a humanitarian solution and can be considered a direct violation of international law. International law, including Article 49, paragraph 1949, of the Fourth Geneva Convention of XNUMX, provides: “Forced individual or mass transfers, as well as deportations, of protected persons from occupied territory to the territory of the Occupying Power or to that of any other State, occupied or not, are prohibited, whatever their motive.”
If Albania accepts this plan, it, and its political leaders, will be considered complicit in actions that fall directly under the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice.
Moreover, accepting 100.000 Palestinians would put Albania in a difficult diplomatic position. Many Arab and Muslim countries would see this as an act of cooperation in what they consider an Israeli strategy of forced displacement of Palestinians. Albania has traditionally maintained good relations with both Western allies and Muslim-majority countries – a balance that could be upset if it becomes part of this plan sponsored by the US and extreme forces of the Israeli government.
DEALING WITH THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES IN ALBANIA
In addition to the broad geopolitical implications, accepting 100,000 Palestinians would have major impacts on Albania’s economy and social cohesion. Albania, with a population of around 2.8 million, does not have the economic capacity to integrate such a large number of refugees in a short period of time. The cost of housing, healthcare, education and employment for such a large group of people would be enormous and could significantly strain the country’s already fragile state budget and infrastructure.
Furthermore, there is a risk that such a large wave of immigrants will create social tensions, especially in a context where Albania itself is facing high emigration of its young people to Western countries due to a lack of economic opportunities. If the integration of refugees is not properly managed, feelings of dissatisfaction and conflicts may arise between the local population and the new arrivals, especially regarding competition for jobs and public services. This could lead to increased ethnic and social tensions, making the situation even more complicated for Albania’s internal stability.
SECURITY RISKS: WHO IS BEING REPLACED?
Another troubling aspect of this proposal is the possibility that among the 100,000 displaced, the US and Israel may seek to deport those they consider “extremist elements.” If Israel plans to use this displacement as a way to deport those it sees as security threats, then Albania would inherit a problem that Israel wants to eliminate. This raises important questions: Will Albania have the capacity to vet the people coming in?
What happens if the deportees decide to violently protest their relocation? The risk of importing radicalism – whether real or perceived – could have serious consequences for Albania’s internal security. Moreover, as was seen in the case of the relocation of 3000 Mujahideen (MEK) from Iran, if Albania is seen as a country that accepts deportees, it could become a target for extremist groups or become embroiled in new unwanted conflicts.
FORCED DISPLACEMENT DOES NOT SOLUTION THE CRISIS
The main cause of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is not population density, but the lack of political will of the actors in the Region. Even if 100.000 Palestinians leave Gaza, what will change? Displacing part of the population will not resolve the conflicts, will not rebuild the destroyed infrastructure, and will not bring justice for the Israelis killed and taken hostage in October 2023, or for the thousands of Palestinians killed in recent military offensives.
The international community should not focus on removing Palestinians from Gaza, but on ensuring their right to live there in dignity, security, self-government, and in peace with their neighbors, including Israel. Albania and other countries should continue to support an effective ceasefire and a sustainable peace process that respects the rights of Palestinians and Israelis to live in peace.
Ultimately, Albania has no obligation – legal, moral or strategic – to accept 100.000 Palestinians forcibly expelled from Gaza. Accepting such a plan would make Albania complicit in human rights abuses, damage its international relations and create major security risks. Most importantly, this action would solve nothing – on the contrary, it would create the illusion of a solution without creating the conditions necessary for a lasting peace.
Instead of facilitating forced displacement, Albania and the global community should stand against any attempt to expel Palestinians from their land. The focus should be on achieving peace, justice, and the reconstruction of Gaza. Accepting forced transfers is not humanity – it is complicity in injustice. And Albania should reject this plan without hesitation.
(The author is director of the Global Governance Institute)
