US Will ‘Take Over’ and Develop Gaza – Trump

Trump made the announcement during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, stating that the United States would assume control of the Gaza Strip, relocate Palestinians to other countries, and transform the area into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Earlier on Tuesday, he had proposed the permanent resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring nations, describing the enclave—where a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire is in its first phase—as a “demolition site.”

A direct US involvement in Gaza would contradict Washington’s longstanding policy, which has traditionally supported the idea that Gaza should be part of a future Palestinian state alongside the occupied West Bank.

“The US 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.”

“If it’s necessary, we’ll do that, we’re going to take over that piece, we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of,” Trump added.

“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.

Trump suggested that Gaza could become a place for “the world’s people” and emphasized its potential to be transformed into “The Riviera of the Middle East.”

However, he did not clarify under what legal or political authority the US could take control of Gaza, which is home to around two million people and has a long history of conflict over its governance.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu did not delve into the specifics of Trump’s proposal but commended his willingness to explore a new approach.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose forces had been engaged in prolonged battles with Hamas in Gaza, commended Trump’s approach, stating that he was “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas” and demonstrating “a willingness to puncture conventional thinking.”

Meanwhile, Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy US national intelligence officer for the Near East, warned that Trump’s proposal would likely require a prolonged US military presence. He also noted that if implemented, the plan could be perceived by the Arab world as a failure to learn from past US nation-building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trump’s push for the resettlement of Gazans in Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations has sparked widespread controversy. The proposal, if carried out forcibly, would likely constitute a violation of international law and has been met with strong opposition, not only from countries in the region but also from Washington’s Western allies.

Many nations and human rights organizations view forced displacement as a grave breach of international humanitarian principles, further complicating the already volatile situation in Gaza.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned Trump’s calls for Gazans to leave as “expulsion from their land.”

“We consider them a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass,” he said.

The Saudi government reaffirmed its firm stance against any forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable. In a statement, Riyadh made it clear that it would not pursue diplomatic ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state is established.