Trump declares US readiness to take control of Gaza Strip
Photo: Donald Trump, President of the United States (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump expressed his country's readiness to take control of the Gaza Strip and develop the enclave. He also did not rule out the possibility of sending American troops to the region, Reuters reports.
The US president made the statement at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC.
"The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site," Trump said.
Answering questions from media representatives about the possibility of sending US troops to Gaza, the American leader said “If it's necessary, we'll do that.”
"We're going to take over that piece. We're going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it'll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of," Trump said.
He noted that he envisions “world people living there, the world's people” and that “Palestinians also, Palestinians will live there, many people will live there.”
President Trump floated the U.S. taking over the Gaza Strip, saying America should be responsible for clearing the territory of rubble and unexploded bombs and proposing an “economic development.” https://t.co/Cw0qKRI2Cw pic.twitter.com/0N0QmTgxQZ
— The Hill (@thehill) February 5, 2025
According to the US President, after demining and cleaning up war-damaged buildings, the enclave can “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too." –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/aCqLl9Gwwn
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 5, 2025
"The Gaza Strip a beautiful land right on the Mediterranean. It could be spectacular place someday. Building a beautiful city in that location would require a number of big investors and a hundred thousand craftsmen and laborers. Would the Palestinian people be ok with joining in the construction process? This could be an economic boom like no other if they could set aside their issues with Israel and the US," Trump was quoted as saying on the US president's Twitter account.
The Gaza Strip a beautiful land right on the Mediterranean. It could be spectacular place someday. Building a beautiful city in that location would require a number of big investors and a hundred thousand craftsmen and laborers. Would the Palestinian people be ok with joining…
— Proud American (@JimSTruthBTold) February 5, 2025
Trump also said that Washington would ask other neighboring countries to accept Palestinians displaced from Gaza.
Since January 25, the US president has repeatedly asked Egypt and Jordan to do so, but Cairo and Amman, as well as other Arab countries, have rejected Trump's proposal.
Now, at a press conference with Netanyahu, Trump did not specify where, in his opinion, the Palestinians should be resettled from the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu reacts to Trump's idea to control Gaza
Reporters asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference at the White House whether he considered Trump's plan to take control of Gaza "a way to expand the boundaries of Israel". In response, the politician noted that one of the goals of the war with Hamas is to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel, The Times of Israel reports.
"President Trump is taking it to a much higher level. He sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of such much terrorism, so many attacks against us… He has a different idea. I think it’s worth paying attention to this," Netanyahu said.
He added that the American authorities are studying this issue and holding consultations.
"I think it’s something that could change history, and it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.," the Israeli prime minister said.
He also notes that during the current "temporary ceasefire," one Hamas leader said that the terrorist group intends to "to do October 7 again, except we’ll do it bigger."
According to Netanyahu, there can be no peace in the region if the "toxic, murderous" Hamas remains in Gaza.
Hamas declares readiness for talks with Trump administration
A senior representative of the Hamas terrorist group, Moussa Abu Marzouk, said that the Palestinian organization is ready for talks with the Trump administration.
"In the past, we have not objected to contacts with the administration of (former US President Joe) Biden, Trump, or any other US administration, and we are open to negotiations with all international parties," the Russian propaganda outlet RIA Novosti quoted him as saying.
According to him, negotiations with the United States have become a kind of necessity for Hamas, given that Washington is a key player in the Middle East.
Trump's Initiative to resettle Palestinians from Gaza
Recall that US President Donald Trump recently proposed a plan to temporarily relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip after Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to end hostilities.
Now, at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Trump said that the Palestinians have no alternative but to leave Gaza. He emphasizes that Jordan and Egypt should accept refugees from the region.
Trump recently discussed the resettlement plan with the leaders of Egypt and Jordan and said that they agreed to implement it.
