WASHINGTON — President Trump proposed a US takeover of the Gaza Strip Tuesday night — shortly after suggesting removing “all” Palestinians living there to neighboring countries.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump, 78, said at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who praised the concept.
“We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings — level it out and create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
3 Trump speaks during a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House. Getty Images
Trump added that the roughly 2 million Gaza Strip residents would be relocated to neighboring countries in a transitional phase — and indicated they would not be granted the right of return afterward.
“Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years,” the president said at the press conference.
Trump said he would deploy US troops to the territory “if it’s necessary” and that he imagined “the world’s people” occupying an “international unbelievable place” that would be regarded as “the Riviera of the Middle East,” with some Palestinians permitted to resettle there.
Netanyahu all but endorsed the idea, saying: “I think it’s something that could change history and it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.”The Israeli leader said “
3 Netanyahu said Trump’s proposal would be “worthwhile.” AP
he sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so many attacks against us, so many trials and so many tribulations.
“He has a different idea, and I think it’s worth paying attention to this.”
Trump did not lay out a timeline for either the proposed US occupation or the relocation of Gaza’s residents, but he presented the overall plan as a well-considered “strong recommendation” to bring peace to the region.
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“I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months, and I’ve seen it from every different angle,” Trump said.
“I spoke to other leaders of countries in the Middle East and they love the idea. They say it really brings stability and what we need is stability.”
3 Trump also said US troops would be sent to the region if it’s “necessary.” Getty Images
Hamas and Israel reached a cease-fire deal last month — after Trump threatened “hell” for the terrorist group if a deal to end fighting and release hostages was not inked before he took office on Jan. 20.
Hamas still controls parts of the Gaza Strip, despite being greatly reduced in power during the 16-month war.Trump said the US would become “somewhat more violent” if Hamas reneges on its agreement to release all hostages that it seized during the Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack that sparked the war.
Egyptian and Jordanian leaders have already rejected Trump’s request that they take in Gazans.
But Trump claimed Tuesday that he believes Amman and Cairo will agree to do it, and that Gazans would be thrilled to relocate.
“Gaza is a hellhole right now,” he said. “It was before the bombing started, frankly, and we’re going to give people a chance to live in a beautiful community that’s safe and secure, and I think you’re going to see tremendous outpouring of support.”
The president made a series of escalating remarks about Gaza throughout the day Tuesday, and said in the Oval Office before the press conference that he thought residents “wouldn’t want to go back” after being relocated.
“I do see a long-term ownership position,” Trump said at the press conference when asked about the potential US takeover.
“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent, in a really magnificent area that nobody would know.”
Trump says ‘US will take over the Gaza Strip’
