United States President Donald Trump has mentioned the US will “take over” and “personal” Gaza after resettling Palestinians elsewhere below a redevelopment plan that would see the enclave grow to be “the Riviera of the Center East”.
In a shock announcement upending a long time of US coverage towards the Israeli-Palestinian battle, Trump mentioned on Tuesday that his administration would spearhead an financial growth plan within the enclave that might “provide limitless numbers of jobs and housing for the individuals of the realm.”
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we are going to do a job with it, too. We’ll personal it,” Trump mentioned on the White on Tuesday after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including that Washington can be answerable for clearing destroyed buildings and dismantling “harmful unexploded bombs and different weapons.”
Trump mentioned he envisioned the US taking a “long-term possession place” over the enclave.
“This was not a choice made calmly. All people I’ve spoken to loves the concept of the US proudly owning that piece of land, growing and creating 1000’s of jobs with one thing that shall be magnificent,” he mentioned.
Trump expressed his hope that displaced Palestinians in Gaza would “go to different international locations of curiosity with humanitarian hearts”, although he urged Palestinians would additionally proceed leaving there.
The US president mentioned Gaza might grow to be residence to the “world’s individuals”.
“I believe you’ll make that into a world, unbelievable place. I believe the potential within the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I believe your complete world – representatives from all around the world shall be now – Palestinians additionally, Palestinians will dwell there,” he mentioned. “Many individuals will dwell there.”
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we are going to do a job with it, too.” –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/aCqLl9Gwwn
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 5, 2025
Requested if US troopers may very well be despatched to Gaza to take care of safety, Trump mentioned it was a chance.
“So far as Gaza is anxious, we’ll do what is critical. If it’s crucial, we’ll try this,” he mentioned.
Netanyahu, who praised Trump because the “best pal” Israel has ever had, mentioned the US president’s plan was value “listening to” and will “change historical past”.
Abed Ayoub, govt director on the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), described Trump’s proposal as “terrifying” and “insane.”
“It might go towards all norms and worldwide legislation. This isn’t one thing that might be permitted to occur,” Ayoub informed Al Jazeera.
“However at this level, you’ve acquired to ask your self should you have a look at the previous 12 months and a half: how a lot does the worldwide group, together with Israel, actually care about worldwide legislation and norms?”
Democratic lawmakers swiftly solid doubt on Trump’s proposal.
“I’ve information for you – we aren’t taking up Gaza. However the media and the chattering class will concentrate on it for just a few days and Trump can have succeeded in distracting everybody from the true story – the billionaires seizing authorities to steal from common individuals,” Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator for Connecticut, mentioned on X.
Trump’s extraordinary proposal is all however sure to roil the following spherical negotiations to increase the delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump has repeatedly taken credit score for the ceasefire deal, which got here into impact on January 19, the day earlier than he took workplace.
He blamed the overseas coverage of his predecessor Joe Biden for permitting the warfare in Gaza to start within the first place.
“No one did something for 4 years besides within the detrimental,” Trump mentioned at one level throughout his information convention, referring to Biden’s time period in workplace. “Sadly, the weak spot and incompetence of these previous 4 years [caused] the grave harm across the globe.”
Nonetheless, Trump has solid doubt on the energy of the ceasefire and whether or not it could final.
“The strikes might begin tomorrow,” Trump mentioned on Tuesday. “There’s not rather a lot left to strike.”
The preliminary 42-day truce, which can see the discharge of 33 Israeli captives and practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, expires on March 1.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Palestinian group Hamas mentioned that negotiations for a second section of the ceasefire had begun. If agreed to, that section would see the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the releasing of all captives.
However Trump lashed out on the group in his remarks, praising Israel’s efforts to chop off sources to Gaza.
