President Donald Trump today said the United States will take over and own the Gaza Strip and proposed that Palestinians should be permanently moved out of Gaza, stating that the war-ravaged region is uninhabitable and suggesting they should be rehoused in “a beautiful area”.
“You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location,” Trump declared during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office.
“I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy. You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza.”
He indicated that the US will be making an announcement on possible Israeli annexation of parts of the West Bank “in the next 4 weeks.” He claimed other countries in the Middle East agreed with him and, while he has not taken a decision “people do like the idea.”
And, when challenged, he said his proposals have nothing to do with supporting a two-state solution to the Palestine issue.
The returning president compared the area to a “living hell.” He added: “I think they’ll be settled in areas where they can live a beautiful life and not be worried about dying every day.”
“Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative,” Trump further stated.
He said the rebuilding of the shattered land and the ongoing occupation of it should not be left to “the same people”.
In the past, Trump has urged Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations to temporarily accommodate Palestinians from Gaza while reconstruction occurs following the conflict between Israel and Hamas, reports the Mirror US.
However, his comments on Tuesday were the first time he publicly suggested making such resettlement permanent. “I hope that we could do something where they wouldn’t want to go back,” Trump said.
“Who would want to go back? They’ve experienced nothing but death and destruction.”
Trump reiterated his stance, declaring that “nobody” wished to return after the severe campaign. “It’s too dangerous for people. Nobody can go there. It’s too dangerous,” he asserted.
“Nobody wants to be there. Warriors don’t want to be there. Soldiers don’t want to be there. How can you have people go back? You’re saying go back into Gaza now? The same thing’s going to happen. It’ll only be death.”
Despite the damage, Palestinians see Gaza as part of their future state and have consistently opposed being displaced. Many are determined to stay and reconstruct.
These remarks from Trump emerged as he gave Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a cordial reception at the White House on Tuesday, marking Netanyahu as the first foreign leader to visit during Trump’s second term. Arriving around 4:20 p.
m. on Tuesday, Netanyahu was met with an exceptionally long handshake from Trump before the two proceeded into bilateral talks.
CBS reported that on Sunday, Netanyahu suggested he and Trump would purportedly discuss a “victory over Hamas,” tackling Iran’s influence, and augmenting diplomatic ties with additional Arab countries.
“Trump is going to continue his support for our great ally, Israel,” National Security adviser Mike Waltz declared on Fox News Tuesday. “No one did more for Israel as President Trump did in his first term. It is not by accident that Bibi Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, is the first foreign leader that is coming today. And look, we’re going to continue to get our hostages out.”