By Elham Asaad Buaras
London, (The Muslim News): In a stunning development that has reverberated across the world, US President, Donald Trump, has declared the United States’ intention to “take over” the Gaza Strip, proposing a controversial vision of long-term US ownership of the territory following the relocation of Palestinians. His remarks, delivered during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the White House, have sparked fierce backlash from a range of critics, including lawmakers from both major US parties, regional allies, and international observers. The statements have ignited accusations of endorsing ethnic cleansing, against international law, and raised serious concerns over the implications for Palestinian rights and regional stability.
Netanyahu called the move something that could “change history” and said it was a “worthwhile” proposal that should be explored.
Trump suggested that Gaza could be transformed into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” claiming the US would “own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.” He also stated that the US would “level” destroyed buildings and create economic development to provide “unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.” However, he did not clarify how or under what authority the US could assume control of Gaza.
When asked whether his position signalled opposition to a two-state solution, Trump gave a vague response: “It doesn’t mean anything about a two-state or one-state or any other state. It means that we want to have, we want to give people a chance at life.” He argued that Gazans “have never had a chance at life because the Gaza Strip has been a hellhole for people living there. It’s been horrible.”
Trump claimed that he had garnered high-level support for his proposal, stating, “This is not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.” He asserted that such a move would bring “great stability to that part of the Middle East.”
He did not rule out sending US troops to secure Gaza, saying, “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.” Netanyahu appeared to endorse Trump’s proposal, stating that the US President “sees a different future for Gaza” and suggesting that it could “change history.”
Trump also hinted that he would soon announce a position on Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank. “We haven’t been taking the position on it yet,” he said, adding that he planned to visit Gaza, Israel, and Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu, for his part, praised Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House” and commended his willingness to challenge conventional thinking. “We have to finish the job in Gaza,” Netanyahu declared. “Israel will end the war by winning the war.”
Trump doubled down on his vision for Gaza, insisting that the only reason people want to return is that they “have nowhere else to go.” He suggested that the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza should move to neighbouring countries with “humanitarian hearts” and “great wealth,” including Jordan and Egypt, and proposed splitting them across several sites.
However, Jordan, and Egypt have both made clear they will not take refugees from Gaza. On Sunday, the Jordanian foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said his country’s rejection of any displacement of Palestinians was “firm and unwavering”.
Trump’s remarks come against the backdrop of Israel’s devastating military campaign in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of more than 61,700 people, according to updated figures from the Gaza Government Media Office. Thousands remain missing and are presumed dead. The war, which erupted after Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, left at least 1,139 Israelis dead and saw more than 200 people taken hostage.
Throughout the day, Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians would “love to leave” Gaza drew widespread condemnation, with critics warning that his rhetoric could fuel further violence and instability in the region. The Saudi government, an important American ally, issued a statement stressing its rejection of any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land and made clear that it would not establish relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Saudi Arabia weighed in quickly with a sharply worded statement, noting that its longstanding call for an independent Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast, and unwavering position.”
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands, or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the statement read.
Similarly, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Canberra that his country has long supported a two-state solution in the Middle East and that nothing had changed. “Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago,” he said.
Omer Shatz, a lecturer in international law at Sciences Po Paris and International Criminal Court (ICC) counsel, said Trump’s comments were a “call for ethnic cleansing” that echoed calls from extremist Israeli politicians and public figures dating to the start of the war.
“We are witnessing an extremely dangerous but natural continuation of the dehumanisation and genocidal calls that we have seen from the most extreme voices inside Israel,” he said.
Meanwhile, human rights advocate likened Trump’s proposal to ethnic cleansing, noting that forced displacement of the population would likely violate international law and face fierce opposition not only in the region but also from Washington’s western allies.
Trump’s proposal has been met with outrage, particularly from Palestinian groups and human rights organizations. Hamas swiftly condemned the plan, labelling it “a recipe for chaos and tension” and vowing that the Palestinian people in Gaza would resist any such efforts. One Hamas figure described the remarks as “absurd” and “ridiculous,” while the Palestinian envoy to the UN insisted that world leaders and people should respect Palestinians’ desire to remain in Gaza.
Criticism and concern spread across both sides of the aisle .Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, described the idea as “problematic,” adding that he doubted the American public would support sending US troops to take control of Gaza. “We’ll see how the Arab world reacts, but this could cause issues on many fronts,” he said.
Senator Tim Kaine, a Democrat from Virginia, described the proposal as “deranged” and “insane,” warning that US military presence in the region would only exacerbate tensions. “This idea won’t find support from either Democrats or Republicans,” said Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina added that there were “a few kinks in that plan,” suggesting it would never come to fruition. “I can’t imagine a scenario where it makes sense for Israel or anyone else,” Tillis remarked. He added that if Israel sought US assistance to ensure that Hamas couldn’t repeat its actions, he would support that—but a full takeover was another matter entirely.
Upon hearing Trump’s remarks, Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, expressed disbelief. “That’s insane,” he said, “I can’t think of a place on Earth that would welcome American troops less, or where any positive outcome is less likely.” Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, argued that the proposal failed to address the concerns of the Palestinian people. When asked whether it would be feasible for the US, she stated, “I don’t think it’s in America’s best interest.”
Palestinian American Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who represents Michigan, was blunt, calling the proposal “ethnic cleansing” and “fanatical nonsense” in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Some Republican voices, including Representatives Nancy Mace from South Carolina and Richard Hudson from North Carolina, expressed support for Trump’s vision. Hudson declared that Trump would “never stop working to ensure historic and lasting peace,” while Mace provocatively suggested, “Let’s turn Gaza into Mar-A-Lago.”
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington was met with fierce protests, as demonstrators accused Trump of welcoming a “war criminal” to the White House. Protesters gathered outside, chanting against Israeli policies in Gaza and denouncing US support for Netanyahu’s government.
[Photo: United States President Donald Trump (R) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) hold a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., United States on February 04, 2025. Photojournalist: Kyle Mazza/AA]
