Rescuers search for survivors among the rubble of destroyed buildings in the Shuja'iyya neighborhood east of Gaza City, on April 9, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)GAZA, April 10 (Xinhua) -- In the southern Gaza Strip town of Khuza'a, 41-year-old Hussam Dalloul Qudeih contemplated his future as he watched the sunset from a school-turned-shelter, with the ongoing Israeli war affecting every aspect of his life."We are the people of this land. Our roots run deep," Qudeih told Xinhua. "Even if we sleep beneath broken ceilings and walk on shattered glass, we will not leave."His words reflect a growing sense of defiance among Gaza residents following U.S. President Donald Trump's suggestion to relocate them to other countries.During a meeting in Washington with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump called Gaza "an incredible piece of important real estate" and suggested moving Palestinians to different countries.Trump's remarks have sparked outrage across the Palestinian territories, where many view them as part of a broader effort to displace the people of Gaza."This is not a new idea. It's the same policy wrapped in new words," said Qudeih, who, like many other Palestinians, has been displaced multiple times in recent months. "They want to uproot us in the name of peace. But peace does not mean exile."Displaced Palestinian children are seen in Gaza City, on April 7, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)Since the resumption of Israeli military operations in Gaza on March 18, at least 1,522 Palestinians have been killed and more than 3,800 others injured, Gaza-based health authorities said on Thursday. Israeli attacks have destroyed entire neighborhoods in the Palestinian enclave, forcing people to flee their homes. Yet, despite these harsh conditions, many remain steadfast in their decision to stay.Aida al-Salmi, a 35-year-old teacher and mother of five, has joined thousands of families living in tents and makeshift shelters in the Al-Mawasi area, a strip of land stretching along the coast from Deir al-Balah in central Gaza to Khan Younis and Rafah in the south. Life there is a daily struggle for al-Salmi and her family. The scarcity of food and clean water, compounded by the constant threat of Israeli airstrikes, makes survival difficult.Although her mood vacillates between despair and hope amid the dire circumstances, al-Salmi views relocation proposals as an affront to her family's dignity and deep connection to the land."Our children were born here. They know every street, every olive tree. We don't want to be relocated. We want to live in peace on our land," she said.U.S. President Donald Trump (C) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong)Hussam al-Dajani, a Gaza-based political analyst, said Trump's remarks reveal a mindset that views Gaza as "a piece of real estate" rather than a home to over 2 million people."This approach ignores the political, cultural, and humanitarian realities on the ground," al-Dajani said. "It aligns with extreme narratives that seek to erase the Palestinian cause by dispersing its people."Al-Dajani also pointed out that proposals for "voluntary relocation" are misleading, as they are put forward at a time when people are living under siege, having lost their homes, jobs, and loved ones. "Under such pressure, what is truly voluntary?" he asked."Every time there is war, they talk about where to send us: Egypt, Trkiye, or Europe, but no one talks about our right to stay," Qudeih said.