Trump Reiterates Proposal for US Role in Post-War Gaza
While traveling on Air Force One on Sunday, US President Donald Trump reiterated his proposal regarding the future of Gaza, stating a commitment to “owning” and “taking” control of the territory after the current conflict, Al Jazeera reports.
He suggested viewing Gaza as a “big real estate site,” envisioning redevelopment potentially managed by other countries in the Middle East under US guidance.
Trump stated his belief that displaced Palestinians would prefer resettlement elsewhere:
“When they have an alternative, they don’t want to return to Gaza.”
Hamas responded to Trump’s remarks, rejecting the proposal:
“Gaza is not a property that can be bought and sold.”
Izzat al-Risheq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, called the remarks “absurd.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaking at a cabinet meeting, lauded Trump’s concept as “revolutionary” and “creative.”
Trump initially floated the idea of US involvement in Gaza’s redevelopment earlier in the week, suggesting it could be transformed into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” While details of the proposal remain sparse, administration officials have attempted to clarify that any potential resettlement of Palestinians would be temporary.
Although Trump initially suggested the possibility of deploying the US military to Gaza, he later said that American soldiers would not be required for the plan. Neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan, have reportedly declined to accept displaced Palestinians, despite Trump’s suggestion of resettlement in other countries.
