In a dramatic reversal of decades of U.S. policy on the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, President Donald Trump said he had a plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza. A contentious plan, it would redevelop the region-which Trump said would become “the Riviera of the Middle East”-by moving Palestinians out while the U.S. takes the lead in redevelopment to build “unlimited numbers of jobs and housing.”
After talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House, Trump said in a press briefing: “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it.” He pledged to remove debris and unexploded ordnance from the area.
The Hamas administration of Gaza promptly denounced the Trump announcement as a “recipe for creating chaos.” It made it clear that its people would resist such effort and emphasized that it is not relevant to their stand to end occupation but not on displacing their residents.
Meanwhile, Trump’s proposition introduces an element of uncertainty into the marathon negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a cease-fire, as the existing truce expires on March 1. The agreement has so far facilitated the release of 33 Israeli captives and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Skeptical of the durability of the ceasefire, Trump envisioned a “long-term ownership position” by the U.S. in Gaza, with the displaced Palestinians relocated to “other countries of interest.” At the same time, he allowed that many would stay in Gaza.
The decision has sparked broad condemnation from Palestinian advocates and Democratic lawmakers, who say it amounts to an attack on Palestinian identity and rights. Countries like Saudi Arabia have voiced their strong disapproval for any plans that would displace Palestinians and reiterated that any peace will have a requirement: there must be a Palestinian state.
