Trump's Gaza pledges, comments stun region, White House staff
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US President Donald Trump shocked his allies and aides alike with his statements about a Gaza "take over" and a displacement of its residents.
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President Donald Trump shakes hands with Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US President Donald Trump’s declaration that the US could "take over" Gaza has triggered shockwaves among American officials, Israeli right-wing circles, and Arab governments, sources told Axios.
During an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump proposed transforming war-ravaged Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East" and inviting "the world's people" to settle there. His comments, made in front of 150 journalists, surprised even his closest advisors, as he suggested that the US would "own" the Palestinian territory.
Israeli officials present at the meeting, particularly those from Netanyahu’s delegation, reportedly reacted with enthusiasm.
A senior Israeli official described the meeting as "truly historic," praising Trump’s proposal as a "genius solution" to long-standing Israeli concerns. Right-wing Israeli figures interpreted his remarks as a green light for full Israeli occupation and settlement expansion in Gaza.
Arab leaders alarmed
Trump’s remarks came at a delicate moment in ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the Israeli occupation and Hamas, raising concerns that his plan could embolden both Netanyahu and Hamas to resume hostilities.
The proposal deeply alarmed regional leaders, particularly in Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. These governments were already wary of Trump's previous remarks advocating for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
In an immediate response, the Saudi Foreign Ministry issued a strongly worded rejection of Trump's claim that the kingdom would normalize relations with the Israeli occupation without Palestinian statehood. "The Saudi crown prince doesn’t want to be seen as being part of what Trump is talking about," a US source close to the Saudis said.
It remains uncertain how Trump formulated his idea of a US takeover of Gaza. Sources close to him suggest he was moved by the scale of destruction in the blockaded strip and saw an opportunity for reconstruction, though his plan overlooked the historical trauma of Palestinian displacement. One US official claimed Trump put forward his proposal because he believed "no one else had any new ideas for Gaza."
Trump’s comments are also expected to complicate ongoing negotiations over the captives held by Hamas and the fragile ceasefire deal. Netanyahu, already under pressure from hardliners within the Israeli regime, may see Trump’s remarks as justification to extend the war effort.
King Abdullah II of Jordan is set to visit Washington next week, followed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Both leaders are expected to confront Trump over his Gaza proposal, setting the stage for tense diplomatic meetings.
Trump promotes ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
Trump pushed for Washignton's "take over" of the Gaza Strip, during a joint news conference held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"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 this site," Trump said.
Although Trump’s rhetoric was blunt, the idea of forcibly displacing Palestinians from their homeland has been a recurring theme in Israeli discourse since the establishment of the occupation. Often referred to with terminology like "transfer" or "incentivized immigration," these terms have long served as a facade for what is, in effect, ethnic cleansing.
The strategy has relied on making life in the occupied territories increasingly intolerable, pushing millions of Palestinians into permanent displacement under the guise of voluntary relocation.
Widespread criticism
Palestinian officials and factions have rejected and denounced Trump’s recent remarks, calling them a reflection of "ignorance" and an "unwavering alignment" with Israeli interests.
This comes shortly after Trump pushed for Washignton's "takeover" of the Gaza Strip, during a joint news conference held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"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 this site," Trump said.
The statement emphasized that Hamas and the Palestinian people would never allow any entity to occupy their land or impose external governance.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital, calling for international bodies like the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to urgently address the situation.
Scheme to eliminate the Palestinian cause
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou also condemned Trump’s proposal, warning that it was part of a broader scheme to "eliminate the Palestinian cause."
"This is a desperate attempt to wipe out our just cause," he said, calling Trump’s rhetoric "dangerous" and aligned with the agenda of "Israel’s" far-right government.
Al-Qanou insisted that Palestinians would never accept forced removal from their homeland. "The people who have withstood the most brutal military assaults for 15 months, facing the world’s most lethal army, will not surrender," he said. "No matter the cost, they will remain steadfast on their land."
