"Make Gaza Great Again Act": U.S. to Sanction Countries Refusing Palestinian Refugees, Starting 60 Days Post-Enactment

The "Make Gaza Great Again Act" is new legislation that pushes Middle Eastern countries—except Israel—to open their doors to Palestinians leaving Gaza. The core idea? If these countries don't cooperate with U.S. requests for "humanitarian entry," they'll face serious consequences.

Pressure Points

This bill gives the President some hefty leverage. Within 60 days of the law's enactment, and regularly for five years, the President must identify any foreign government officials who refuse to grant humanitarian entry to Palestinians from Gaza. Once identified, the President can:

1. Freeze their assets: Any property or interests these individuals hold in the U.S. gets locked down.
2. Ban them from the U.S.: They become ineligible for visas, and any existing visas are immediately revoked.

Penalties for breaking these rules are severe, matching those under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. There are exceptions for national security activities, and the President can waive sanctions, but must report to Congress every 120 days on why.

Allyship on the Line

Beyond individual sanctions, the bill targets entire countries. If a nation designated as a "major non-NATO ally" refuses a Presidential request to accept Palestinian refugees, the President can:

1. Suspend their ally status: This is a big deal in terms of military and economic cooperation.
2. Cut off all foreign aid: Including security assistance, which can be substantial.

The President can reverse these actions, but must notify Congress in writing.

The Israel Exception

Section 4 explicitly states that this law does not apply to Israel or its citizens. This means Israel is under no obligation to take any action under this law, which is a significant point given the context.

Reading Between the Lines

While the stated goal is humanitarian, the bill's heavy-handed approach raises some flags. For example, "humanitarian entry" isn't clearly defined. Does it mean temporary shelter? Permanent resettlement? This vagueness could lead to disputes. Consider a hypothetical: a country offers temporary visas but not full residency. Does that count as "refusal"? The bill leaves that open.

Also, the five-year sunset clause on the sanctions authority suggests this is envisioned as a temporary pressure tactic, not a long-term solution. The repeated reporting requirements to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (Sec. 2) ensure some oversight, but the President retains considerable power.

Real-World Ripple Effects

Imagine a mid-level official in a fictional country, "Al-Aman," tasked with refugee processing. If Al-Aman's government, already stretched thin, hesitates to accept a large influx of refugees, that official could be personally sanctioned, their family's U.S. assets frozen, and their ability to travel curtailed. This puts immense pressure not just on governments, but on individuals carrying out policy.

Overall, the "Make Gaza Great Again Act" uses a stick, not a carrot. It's a high-stakes gamble that could either force cooperation or backfire, straining relations with key allies in a volatile region. The lack of any incentives, combined with broad presidential power and the specific exclusion of Israel, makes this a particularly forceful piece of legislation.