WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump proposed Tuesday that the United States “will take over” the Gaza Strip and rebuild it as he held a meeting and press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump’s surprising remarks came just hours after he said Palestinians had “no alternative” but to leave their homes in Gaza.
“The U.S. 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. 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,” Trump said.
“They instead can occupy all of a beautiful area with homes and safety, and they can live out their lives in peace and harmony” in other areas or countries,” he added.
Trump suggested he would be open to deploying U.S. troops to secure the area.
“As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary,” he said. “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”
The President also added that all Palestinians currently living in Gaza — nearly 2 million people — should leave and be placed in other countries in the Middle East, including Jordan and Egypt.
“The whole thing is a mess,” Trump said of Gaza. “Gaza is a hellhole. We will create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
Netanyahu, when asked about the U.S. taking over Gaza, did not fully endorse the proposal.
“We’re talking about it, he’s exploring it with his people, with his staff. I think it’s something that could change history,” Netanyahu said. “And it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.”
Trump also said he would visit Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the Gaza Strip when he makes his foreign travel plans.
Earlier in the day, Trump and Netanyahu met in the Oval Office. Trump repeated his comments about Gazans leaving their territory and moving elsewhere, calling it a “big, beautiful piece of land”.
“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza. I think that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They’ve lived like hell, they’ve lived like you’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living. The only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is they have no alternative. What’s the alternative? Go where? If they had an alternative, they’d much rather not go back to Gaza and live in a beautiful alternative that’s safe,” he said.
“I think if they had the opportunity, if they had an alternative — they have no alternative right now,” he added. “They’re there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It’s a big pile of rubble right now. Who can live like that?”
Trump’s proposal and idea for moving Palestinians out of Gaza is likely to be met with resistance. A spokesman for Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, blasted Trump’s remarks, saying, “We consider it a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.”
“Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass, and what is required is to end the occupation and aggression against our people, not expel them from their land,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. should buy or take over Greenland from Denmark, that Canada becomes the 51st state for the U.S., and that the U.S. take back control of the Panama Canal.
