Warning: Images in this story show the aftermath of war, including bombed out buildings. Be sure to preview before showing to your students.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
SUMMARY
Shockwaves continue to reverberate around the world following President Donald Trump’s remarks about seizing control of Gaza and turning the war-ravaged area into a "Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump repeated his idea that two million Palestinians from Gaza should relocate to other countries. William Brangham discussed the reaction with Marwan Muasher of the Carnegie Endowment.
View the transcript of the story.
Timestamps
If short on time, you may want to watch to the 4:38 mark. The remainder of the segment provides more in-depth analysis.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM-UP QUESTIONS
- What is President Trump's plan to take over Gaza?
- When would the U.S. take over, according to Trump's plan?
- How have world leaders reacted to Trump's plan?
- Where (what countries) are some of the leaders from who have rejected the proposal?
- Why did the Gazans interviewed in this story reject the proposal?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
How do you think Trump's proposal will impact the U.S.'s relationship with other countries in the Middle East? What about other countries around the world?
Media literacy: Many leaders have reacted by suggesting that President Trump's plan amounts to ethnic cleansing and is barred by international law. How could you find out what international laws are designed to prevent ethnic cleansing, and what historical events led to those laws?
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO
You can read this article from The Hill to better understand how Trump's proposal is being received in Congress. Discuss as a class — if Republican Senators are skeptical of the plan, what do you think its future is?
You might also consider watching the following segment about Gazans (Classroom has a Daily News Lesson on it, too) seeking to return to their homes following a cease-fire agreement with Israel. How do you think Gaza will be rebuilt?
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