President Donald Trump has suggested the United States should take control of the Gaza Strip and he claims it would mean dismantling and rebuilding the war torn territory.
He made the comment during a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who was in Washington for talks.
Gaza has been devastated since October 7 2023 when hostilities erupted between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian militant group.
Much of the enclave is in ruins with thousands of buildings reduced to rubble.
Describing the situation in Gaza, Trump called it “a hellhole” and said the US should be involved directly.
He outlined a scenario where America would have a “long term ownership position” over the territory and even likened it to a luxury coastal resort saying “it’s the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump said many people he has spoken to are for the US taking the land and argued it would allow for the clearing of unexploded bombs, the demolition of destroyed buildings and the flattening of the area for redevelopment.
He also promised job creation and housing for the people of the region.
“We’ll own it, clear it and turn it into something completely different,” he said, echoing his experience in real estate development.
When asked who would live in the rebuilt Gaza, Trump replied “the world’s people”.
He also floated the idea of deploying US troops to the region as part of his plan.
Netanyahu praised Trump’s idea calling it “a game changer” and said it was worth exploring.
But neither leader addressed the legalities of such a move leaving many questions unanswered.
Just hours before signing an executive order to cut US funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Trump said Palestinians in Gaza have no choice but to leave.
The proposal if pursued would be a huge shift in US foreign policy and raise many geopolitical and humanitarian concerns.
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