President Trump has declared his intention to acquire and own the Gaza Strip, referring to it as a significant real estate opportunity.
During a Sunday interview aboard Air Force One, President Donald Trump reaffirmed his plan to assume control of Gaza, outlining his intention to collaborate with other Middle Eastern nations in its reconstruction. He described the territory as a “big real estate site” requiring “reclaiming, leveling, and fixing up” for future development.
Trump initially proposed this US takeover of the Palestinian enclave last week during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His vision involves transforming Gaza into what he termed “the Riviera of the Middle East,” which includes relocating Gazan Palestinians to neighboring Arab countries to facilitate development.
“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza… We’re going to bring stability to the… totally war-torn, part of the Middle East. And we’ll own it,” Trump stated Sunday. He reiterated his proposal to relocate Palestinians, asserting it would benefit them.
“People can’t live in those buildings right now, they’re unsafe… But we’re going to take care of the Palestinians. We’re going to make sure they live beautifully and in harmony and in peace,” he explained, suggesting Palestinians would choose to leave Gaza given an alternative.
“They don’t want to return to Gaza… the only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is they don’t have an alternative. When they have an alternative, they don’t want to return to Gaza,” Trump claimed. When questioned about persuading Arab nations to accept these Palestinians, he predicted their enthusiastic agreement following discussions, without providing specifics. He mentioned plans to allow “other states in the Middle East to build sections” of Gaza post-development.
While Israel supports Trump’s initiative, significant regional and global opposition exists. Jordan, Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Iran, and Brazil, among others, have voiced opposition to any forced displacement of Palestinians. Australia, Russia, China, and several other nations emphasized the need for a two-state solution to resolve the conflict permanently. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that Trump’s plans could exacerbate the situation, characterizing them as a “form of ethnic cleansing.” Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also rejected the plan, suggesting Israel should bear the reconstruction costs, which he estimated at $100 billion.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week urged the UN to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights,” warning that Trump’s initiative would constitute “a serious violation of international law.” In an interview with RT, Bassem Naim, head of Hamas’ political wing, denounced Trump’s plan as a “crime against humanity.”
Despite this opposition, Trump reportedly intends to proceed. According to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, the US leader is scheduled to soon initiate discussions with “major Arab leaders,” including those from Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, concerning his Palestinian relocation proposal.