Trump, in Shock Announcement, Says U.S. Will Take Over Gaza After Permanently Displacing Palestinians - Israel News - Haaretz.com
WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump made the shocking announcement on Tuesday during a joint press conference with visiting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he will pursue a plan where the U.S. assumes ownership of Gaza, shortly after calling for the permanent displacement of the Strip's residents.
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we'll do a good job with it too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all 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 economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area," he said.
Trump stressed that "I also strongly believe the Gaza Strip, which has been a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people anywhere near it and those who live there. It's been very unlucky for a long time. being in its presence has just not been good. It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there."
Displaced Gazans cross the Netzarim corridor from the southern Gaza Strip into Gaza City, last week.Credit: AFP/Omar al-Qattaa
"We should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts - there are many of them that want to do this - and build various domains that will ultimately be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians of Gaza ending the death and destruction and frankly bad luck," he continued. "It could be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, numerous sites or one large site. But the people will be able to live in comfort and peace. They're going to have peace, not shot at, killed and destroyed like this civilization of wonderful people have had to endure."
When asked if this meant that Trump would send U.S. troops to Gaza, he said "if it's necessary, we'll do that. We're gonna take over that piece and develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs. It will be something the entire Middle East can be very proud of."
"i see a long-term ownership position and bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East. Everybody I've spoken to — this was not a decision made lightly — everybody loves the idea of the US owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a magnificent area nobody would really know. they look and all they see is death and destruction and rubble," he said. "I've studied this very closely and I've seen it from every different angle. and it's only going to get worse."
People walk past an electronic billboard showing U.S. President Donald Trump, shaking hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday.Credit: Ariel Schalit,AP
Trump deemed Gaza "a hellhole - it was before the bombing started frankly. And we're going to give people a chance," adding that "I've spoken with other leaders in the Middle East and they love the idea, they say it will really bring stability."
Qualifying that he didn't want to be "cute" or a "wise guy," he described Gaza as the potential "riviera of the middle east. this could be so magnificent, but more importantly is the people absolutely destroyed can live in a much better situation."
"I envision the world's people living there. You'll make it into an international, unbelievable place. The entire world will be there - Palestinians also - many people will live there. they tried the other for decades and decades, it's not gonna work."
Netanyahu immediately endorsed the plan, saying "President Trump is taking it to a much higher level. He sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism and attacks against us, so many trials and tribulations. He has a different idea and it's worth paying attention to this. He's exploring it and it's something that could change history."
U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, left, and U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Walz, walk back after speaking to the media outside the West Wing of the White House, on Tuesday.Credit: Alex Brandon/AP
The news was so shocking that it distracted from the fact that Trump said he would make a decision on Israel's potential annexation of the West Bank within the next four weeks — a potential paradigm shifting event for the entire Middle East.
He additionally expressed tacit support for the hostage deal, saying "we're taking them out and we'll go into phase 2, but we'd like to get all the hostages. if we don't, it will make us somewhat more violent, I'll tell you that, because they would have broken their word."