President Donald Trump said Tuesday the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip, making the statement after saying Palestinians should be resettled away from the war-torn region.
Trump made the statement during a press conference with Netanyahu at the White House. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Key Takeaways
- Trump said “we’ll own it” when discussing the future of Gaza, and suggested the U.S. could dispose of active bombs still in the area, “level the site” and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing” for “the people of the area,” but it is unclear what people he was referring to.
- The president also said Gaza should “not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people,” suggesting Palestinians from Gaza should be relocated to other countries.
- The president, who made the comments at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, added the U.S. would take up a “long-term ownership position” of Gaza, though he did not answer a question about what legal standing would allow the U.S. to take over the region.
- Trump’s comments came just a few hours after he told reporters at the White House that Palestinians should be resettled in Jordan, Egypt or other countries and referred to Gaza as a “demolition site” (Jordan and Egypt have rejected the idea of Palestinian resettlement from Gaza).
- Trump did not provide finer details about his proposed “economic development” in Gaza and did not clarify who would benefit from the “unlimited numbers of jobs” he claimed it will produce.
Crucial Quote
“I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable,” Trump said of the region’s future, calling it the “riviera of the Middle East.”
What To Watch For
Trump did not rule out sending American troops to Gaza when asked about the possibility. “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that—we’re going to take over,” he said.
Tangent
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and former senior advisor, said last year during the conflict in Gaza that the area’s waterfront property “could be very valuable, if people would focus on building up livelihoods.”
Key Background
Trump said Gaza “is not a place for people to be living” and referenced the widespread destruction in the region without directly addressing Israel’s military campaign there. The president has proposed Palestinian resettlement in nearby countries, though Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have resisted plans to move refugees out of Gaza. The five countries have instead pushed for a two-state solution including the establishment of a Palestinian state. In addition to Gaza, Trump has proposed making places such as Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada a part of the U.S.
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