Trump calls for US to take over Gaza, permanently resettle all Palestinians
The US president unveiled his surprise plan, without providing specifics, after he met visiting Israeli PM Netanyahu
The announcement followed Trump’s shock proposal earlier on Tuesday for the permanent resettlement of the more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries, calling the enclave – where the first phase of a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release deal is in effect – a “demolition site”.
The US taking a direct stake in Gaza would run counter to long-time policy in Washington and for much of the international community, which has held that Gaza would be part of a future Palestinian state that includes the occupied West Bank. “The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump told reporters. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”
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Trump calls for US to take over Gaza, permanently resettle all Palestinians
“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. “I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East.”