The US president plans to demolish the enclave and resettle Palestinians elsewhere
President Donald Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference at the White House, February 4, 2025 © AP / Evan Vucci US President Donald Trump has proposed that the United States assume control of the Gaza Strip, describing the area as a “demolition site” that requires redevelopment. Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump outlined a plan for the US to clear unexploded ordnance, rebuild infrastructure, and create jobs and housing. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump told reporters. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.” Trump did not rule out deploying US troops to Gaza, stating, “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.” He also suggested that the US envisions a long-term role in the region. “I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East,” he said, adding that he had spoken to regional leaders and they supported the idea. He described his vision as transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” A key aspect of the proposal involves relocating Gaza’s approximately two million Palestinian residents to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan. Trump claimed that regional leaders supported the idea, though he did not provide details on how the relocation would be implemented. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu praised Trump’s proposal, calling it “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas” and expressing optimism about its potential to change history. The announcement has drawn widespread criticism. Human rights organizations condemned the proposal as a form of ethnic cleansing, emphasizing that forced displacement violates international law. Hamas officials also denounced the plan, stating that Palestinians would resist such efforts. Additionally, both Egypt and Jordan have previously rejected similar resettlement proposals, citing concerns over regional stability and Palestinian rights. 05 February 2025 04:09 GMT Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised President Donald Trump for thinking “outside the box” with his proposal for a US takeover of Gaza.
“I think it’s something that could change history,” Netanyahu said at a joint press conference with Trump earlier in the day, noting that both sides are discussing the possibilities. “Your willingness to puncture conventional thinking – thinking that has failed time and time again – your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas will help us achieve all these goals,” he added. The Israeli leader also stressed that Trump was the “greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” highlighting several pro-Israel policies from Trump’s first term. Democrats have responded with swift condemnation to Trump’s suggestion that the US should take control of Gaza. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy expressed his outrage on X, writing, “He’s totally lost it.” In a follow-up post, he added, “I have news for you – we aren’t taking over Gaza.” Murphy further argued that Trump’s statement serves as a distraction, saying, “But the media and the chattering class will focus on it for a few days and Trump will have succeeded in distracting everyone from the real story – the billionaires seizing government to steal from regular people.” California Congressman Eric Swalwell also weighed in on X, posting, “Wait what? The US is going to occupy Gaza?” He went on to criticize the idea by referencing past promises, stating, “We were promised no more endless wars. By my count we are occupying Greenland, Canada, Panama Canal, and now..Gaza?” Democratic Senator Chris Coons criticized Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of Gaza, telling NBC News, “That’s insane.” He added, “I can’t think of a place on Earth that would welcome American troops less and where any positive outcome is less likely.” Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has issued a comprehensive statement in response to Trump’s proposal, reaffirming its “firm and unwavering” commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state. The ministry further stated that “permanent peace” cannot be achieved without Palestinians securing their “legitimate rights” to statehood. #Statement | The Foreign Ministry affirms that Saudi Arabia’s position on the establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering. HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister clearly and unequivocally reaffirmed this stance. pic.twitter.com/0uuoq8h12I — Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) February 5, 2025 Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, has responded to Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and relocate its residents to a “good, fresh, beautiful piece of land.” “For those suggesting a happy, nice place for them, let them return to their original homes inside Israel,” Mansour stated in a video shared by the Palestinian mission to the UN on X. He further emphasized that Palestinians want to return to their homes in Gaza, declaring, “Our homeland is our homeland… They want to rebuild Gaza—its schools, hospitals, and infrastructure—because this is where they belong and where they love to live. I believe leaders should respect the will of the Palestinian people.” US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will assume control over the Gaza Strip, following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip. And we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said, promising to “level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings.” Trump also said he is not ruling out deploying US troops to support his Gaza development plan. “We’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that place,” he said. More
