President Donald Trump revealed an extraordinary plan Tuesday for the United States to take over the Gaza Strip, resettle Palestinians in other countries–seemingly whether they wanted to leave or not–and turn the territory into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump made the stunning proposal to audible gasps during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom he hosted at the White House for talks.
Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump arrives at Harry Reid International Airport to board a plane after a campaign trip, Saturday, Sept.14, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Donald Trump
In a scheme that lacked details on how he would move out more than two million Palestinians or control Gaza, Trump said he would make the war-battered enclave “unbelievable” by removing unexploded bombs and rubble and economically redeveloping it.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” Trump said.
He said there was support from the “highest leadership” in the Middle East and upped pressure on Egypt and Jordan to take displaced Gazans–despite both countries and the Palestinians flatly rejecting the surprise idea.
Suggesting “long-term ownership” by the US, Trump said his plan for Gaza would make it “the Riviera of the Middle East. This could be something that could be so magnificent.”
Key US ally Netanyahu said Trump’s plan could “change history” and was worth “paying attention to.”
Netanyahu was making the first visit of a foreign leader to the White House since Trump’s return to power, for what were billed as talks on securing a second phase of the Israel-Hamas truce after an initial six-week ceasefire.
