Donald Trump says he wants the US to control Gaza and for Palestinians to be resettled in other nations

U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he wants the United States to "take over" and rebuild the Gaza Strip. This statement was made while he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The meeting marked the first in-person visit by a foreign leader since Trump's return to the presidency two weeks prior, aiming to turn the page on the sometimes-strained relationship with former President Joe Biden.

During a joint press conference packed with reporters, President Trump suggested that Palestinians should be permanently moved from Gaza to other countries. He claimed that Gaza is now a "demolition site" and that no one would want to live there. Trump suggested that surrounding "rich" countries could fund this relocation, with people being moved to one large location or multiple locations. However, Arab nations, including regional U.S. allies Jordan and Egypt, as well as Palestinian leaders, have strongly opposed the idea.

When asked if this equated to forced displacement, Trump claimed that Gazans would love the opportunity to relocate. "We want to give people a chance to live. They’ve never had a chance to live because the Gaza Strip has been a hellhole for the people that are living there," Trump said. This extraordinary proposal is expected to send shockwaves through the Arab world, drawing widespread condemnation and dramatically reshaping U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.

When pressed for details about the potential reconstruction, President Trump said he believed the U.S. could have a "long-term ownership position." "I see tremendous stability for the area, for the Middle East, and maybe even beyond the Middle East," he said. "Everybody I talk to likes the idea of the U.S. owning that land and developing it and creating thousands of jobs; it would be magnificent." Trump also envisioned Gaza being rebuilt as "the future Riviera of the Middle East." "We’re going to make sure it’s first class," he said. "It would be wonderful for the Palestinian people."

Netanyahu thanked the U.S. President for his unwavering support for Israel, including his decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and for brokering the Abraham Accords. "You’ve been the greatest friend that Israel has ever had in the White House," Netanyahu said. "And now, in the opening days of your second term, you are continuing to provide your leadership in helping bring our hostages home." He added, "Israel will finish the job by winning the war. Israel's victory will be America's victory."

Meanwhile, Gaza officials stated that tens of thousands of Palestinians are returning to northern Gaza after the ongoing 15-month war has left over 61,000 Palestinians dead. They also added that thousands are missing and now presumed dead. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are Palestinian occupied territories that have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. Israel withdrew its forces from the area in 2005, but is still considered the occupying power due to its continued control of Gaza's borders, airspace, and coastline. Palestinians consider the Gaza Strip part of their ancestral homeland, while Israel says the territory is not legally occupied because the land remains disputed.

At a United Nations Security Council meeting, Palestinian Ambassador to the UN Riyad Mansour responded to Trump's proposal. "Our homes are our homes," he said, arguing that Palestinians should have the right to choose to return home, no matter how destroyed it is. "I think that leaders and people should respect the will of the Palestinian people." The meeting between the U.S. and Israeli leaders comes as Israel and Hamas are engaging in a critical second phase of mediation regarding a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages. This second phase of the agreement is expected to pave the way to end the war, release all hostages, and achieve a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

At a critical juncture for the region, a ceasefire agreement in Gaza remains fragile, a parallel Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire in Lebanon is nearing its end, and concerns persist about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Prior to the meeting, Trump signed a series of new executive orders, including a presidential memorandum aimed at preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and limiting its oil exports. He also signed a directive halting U.S. engagement with the UN Human Rights Council and continuing the suspension of funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Trump also announced plans to visit Gaza and Israel, but did not specify the timing of the visit. Senior officials confirmed that King Abdullah II of Jordan is expected to visit the U.S. next week to meet with Trump. Netanyahu is expected to meet with U.S. military leaders at the Pentagon and with members of Congress later this week. U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Steve Witkoff also announced plans to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Florida on Thursday local time. The Gulf state has played a critical mediating role in securing a ceasefire and the release of hostages. "We’re going to review all of those things with him… so we can be fully informed," Witkoff said.