In a surprising proposal, President Donald Trump stated Tuesday that the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip, “degree the location” and rebuild it, after earlier saying Palestinians dwelling there ought to go away.
“They as an alternative can occupy all of an exquisite space with houses and security, they usually can stay out their lives in peace and concord” in different areas or nations, he stated at a information convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we are going to do a job with it, too. We’ll personal it and be answerable for dismantling the entire harmful unexploded bombs and different weapons on the location. Degree the location and do away with the destroyed buildings. Degree it out,” he stated.
“Create an financial growth that can provide limitless numbers of jobs and housing for the individuals of the world,” he added. “Do an actual job. Do one thing totally different.”
President Donald Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu maintain a press convention within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
“We must always go to different nations of curiosity with humanitarian hearts, and there are lots of of them that wish to do that, and construct varied domains that can finally be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians dwelling in Gaza, ending the dying and destruction and albeit, dangerous luck,” he stated. “This may be paid for by neighboring nations of nice wealth. It could possibly be one, two, three, 4, 5, seven, eight, 12. It could possibly be quite a few websites, or it could possibly be one massive website,” he stated.
U.S. President Donald Trump seems to be on as he holds a joint press convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the East Room on the White Home in Washington, Feb. 4, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters
“However the individuals will have the ability to stay in consolation and peace and can get positive — we’ll make sure that one thing actually spectacular is completed. They will have peace. They are not going to be shot at and killed and destroyed like this civilization of — of fantastic individuals has needed to endure. The one purpose the Palestinians wish to return to Gaza is that they don’t have any different,” he stated.
“I do see a long-term possession place, and I see it bringing nice stability to that a part of the Center East and perhaps all the Center East. And everyone I’ve spoken to, this was not a choice made flippantly,” he continued. “Everyone I’ve spoken to loves the concept of america proudly owning that piece of land, growing and creating 1000’s of jobs with one thing that shall be magnificent in a very magnificent space that no one would know.”
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks throughout a joint press convention with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu within the East Room on the White Home in Washington, Feb. 4, 2025.
Leah Millis/Reuters
Requested who would stay there, Trump responded, “the world’s individuals,” saying, “the potential within the Gaza Strip is unbelievable.”
“Historical past, as you understand, simply cannot let it preserve repeating itself. We’ve a possibility to do one thing that could possibly be phenomenal. And I do not wish to be cute. I do not wish to be a clever man. However the Riviera of the Center East, this could possibly be one thing that could possibly be so … magnificent,” he stated.
Earlier, within the Oval Workplace, when he additionally raised the concept, a reporter requested if Palestinians relocated would have the suitable to return.
“Why would they wish to return?” he responded.
“It could be my hope that we may do one thing very nice, actually good, the place they would not wish to return,” he stated. Why would they wish to return? That place has been hell. It has been one of many meanest, one of many meanest, hardest locations on earth,” he stated.
Requested about sending U.S. troops to Gaza, Trump appeared open to the chance.
“So far as Gaza is anxious, we’ll do what is critical. If it is necessary, we’ll do this,” Trump stated. “We’ll take over that place and we’ll develop it, create 1000’s and 1000’s of jobs.”
US President Donald Trump (R) and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take questions throughout a press convention within the East Room of the White Home in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 4, 2025.
Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Netanyahu, delivering remarks after Trump, praised the president for his “recent concepts” to perform their objectives, which he stated included guaranteeing Gaza shouldn’t be a risk to Israel.
“I imagine, Mr. President, that your willingness to puncture typical pondering, pondering that has failed time and time and time once more, your willingness to assume outdoors the field with recent concepts will assist us obtain all these objectives,” he stated.
Requested if his view that Palestinians ought to be relocated from Gaza is an indication that he’s in opposition to the two-state coverage that has been the overseas coverage method of america for many years, Trump stated no.
“It doesn’t suggest something a couple of two-state or one state or another state. It implies that we wish to have, we wish to give individuals an opportunity at life,” he stated. “They’ve by no means had an opportunity at life as a result of the Gaza Strip has been a hellhole for individuals dwelling there. It has been horrible.”
The president argued that his proposal would profit the Center East as a complete and never solely Israel.
“I’ve to emphasize, this isn’t for Israel,” he stated. “That is for everyone within the Center East. Arabs, Muslims, that is for everyone. You must be taught from historical past. You may’t preserve doing the identical mistake again and again. Gaza is a hellhole proper now,” he stated.
“I’ve studied it. I’ve studied this very carefully over numerous months, and I’ve seen it from each totally different angle,” he stated. “And it is a very, very harmful place to be. And it is solely going to worsen. And I believe that is an concept that’s gotten great — and I am speaking about from the very best degree of management — gotten great reward.”
He stated he had “a sense” that regardless of Jordan’s king and Egypt’s president opposing his concept to “clear out” Gaza and have them soak up Palestinians, they “will open their hearts and can give us the sort of land that we have to get this accomplished. And folks can stay in concord and peace,” he stated, because the extraordinary information convention ended.
