US committed to ‘buying and owning’ Gaza, Trump says

U.S. President Donald Trump has once again reiterated his controversial proposal to control the Gaza Strip, stating his commitment to "buy and own" the war-torn enclave. Trump's statement has sparked widespread attention and strong reactions. This proposal is seen as a significant departure from established international norms.

Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday that Gaza should be seen as a "large real estate project," with other Middle Eastern countries responsible for its reconstruction. "As for us rebuilding it, we can have other countries in the Middle East build parts of it; others can do it with our support," Trump said en route to New Orleans to watch the Super Bowl. He also emphasized, "But we are committed to owning it, occupying it, and ensuring that Hamas does not return. There is nothing left to return to; the place is a pile of rubble." This vision outlines a significant shift in the region's power dynamics.

Trump also claimed that despite strong opposition from Palestinian representatives and most members of the international community, displaced Palestinians would prefer not to return to Gaza. "If we can give them a home in safer areas—the only reason they talk about returning to Gaza is that they have no other choice. When they have other choices, they don't want to return to Gaza," the U.S. President said. He believes that providing alternative options can resolve the Palestinians' plight. This approach aims to address the humanitarian crisis with long-term solutions.

Hamas, the Palestinian organization controlling Gaza, reiterated its opposition to Trump's proposal on Sunday, calling his latest remarks "absurd." Hamas political bureau member Izzat Risheq said in a statement shared via Telegram: "Gaza is not property for sale or purchase; it is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land." Risheq added: "Dealing with the Palestinian issue with the mentality of a real estate dealer is the root of failure. Our Palestinian people will thwart all displacement and expulsion plans. Gaza belongs to its people." Hamas firmly defends its ownership of Gaza. The group views such proposals as a violation of Palestinian sovereignty.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's proposal earlier on Sunday as "revolutionary" and "creative." He made the remarks at a cabinet meeting held after returning from Washington, D.C., where he held talks with the U.S. President. Trump shocked Palestinians and the international community on Tuesday by suggesting Washington take over Gaza as part of a bold reconstruction plan, claiming the enclave could be turned into the "Middle East's Riviera." The U.S. President doubled down on his suggestion the next day, after government officials tried to temper the backlash to the proposal by insisting any resettlement of Palestinians would be temporary. This endorsement highlights the complex geopolitical landscape.

Trump, a real estate developer before entering politics, has offered few details on how his proposal would be implemented, which, aside from facing enormous practical obstacles, would raise legal and ethical questions. After initially suggesting he was open to the possibility of sending U.S. troops into Gaza, Trump later said that U.S. soldiers would not be needed to execute the plan. While Trump suggested displaced Palestinians could be resettled in "other humanitarian-minded countries of interest," neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan have flatly rejected calls to accept displaced Palestinians. Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned Netanyahu's suggestion to use the kingdom's land to establish a Palestinian state. "The Kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have the right to their land, and they are not intruders or migrants, and they cannot be displaced at the whim of the brutal Israeli occupiers," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, accusing the Israeli leader of trying to "divert attention" from Israel's ongoing "crimes" in Gaza. The international community remains divided on the feasibility and ethics of Trump's plan.