«We will be your owners»: Trump suggests that the US will take control of Gaza and that the Palestinians must leave permanently

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, suggested on Tuesday that his country must control the Gaza Strip and that the Palestinians must leave the sector permanently and be relocated in neighboring nations.

At a press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamín Netanyahu, the president referred to Gaza as a «death and destruction.»

By BBC News World

«The United States will take control of the Gaza Strip and we will also do a job with it. We will own her. And we will be responsible for dismantling all the dangerous without exploiting bombs and other weapons on this site, ”he said.

The president said that Gaza’s reconstruction process should not be in the hands of the same people, so his country will take control of the area.

He assured that this territory can be developed economically and become «the Riviera de Middle East.»

Asked by journalists about whether his proposal for Gaza meant that he resigned from the solution of two states -one Israeli and another Palestinian -Trump said that this was a «very strong recommendation» and that it has nothing to do with the solution of two states.

«Gaza is hell at this time and has been for a long time,» he said. Then he said you can’t repeat the same error over and over again.

He indicated that the people who reside there have «lived a miserable existence», so they should leave, because if they do «they will not receive shots or destroyed.»

The American president said that he has spoken with many leaders about this possibility and assured that they agree because they want peace and stability.

He pointed out that the relocation of the Gazati should be paid by richer countries in the region, to allow them to «live comfortable and peaceful.»

«Gaza hasn’t worked»

Prior to the meeting with the Israeli prime minister, Trump anticipated the press his position by stating that «the question of Gaza has not worked», so he believes that «they should get a good piece of new and beautiful land, and get some that some people contribute the money to build it and make it pleasant and habitable, ”he said.

«I think it would be much better than returning to Gaza, who has had decades and decades of death,» said the president when talking to the press after signing several executive orders.

Trump suggested that these «pieces of land» could be in Egypt or Jordan. When a journalist asked him if that would be so displacing the people of Gaza, he said that if the Palestinians had the opportunity to leave, they would love to do it. «

«They are there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It is a large bunch of rubble at this time. I mean, have you seen the photos? ”He said.

The president also suggested that this relocation of the Palestinians could be permanent.

«My hope is that we can do something really good, really pleasant, where they don’t want to return. Why would they like to return? The place has been hell, ”Trump told journalists in the Oval office.

Several governments in the Middle East have systematically rejected the proposals to transfer the displaced people of Gaza, warning that such a measure would threaten regional stability.

Speaking to journalists, high -ranking officials of the Trump administration denied that the president would like to expel Gaza people by force.

Instead, Trump wanted to make the area «habitable», and added that the reconstruction could take 10 to 15 years due to damage to the conflict.

«A recipe for chaos»

Riyad Mansour, a Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said in a video published in X that the Palestinians want to return to their homes.

«Our homeland is our homeland … They want to rebuild Gaza, schools, hospitals, infrastructure because it is where they belong and love to live there. And I think the leaders must respect the wishes of the Palestinian people, ”he said in the subsequent statement to Trump’s proposal.

Before the controversial press conference, a spokesman for Hamas criticized the suggestion of US President.

Trump’s idea is a «recipe to create chaos and tension in the region,» Sami Abu Zuhri told various media.

«Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to be approved. What is required is the end of occupation and aggression against us, not the expulsion of our land, ”he added.

For his part, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed his position that he will not establish links with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state.

This position is «firm and unwavering,» said the country’s foreign ministry in a statement published after Trump and Netanyahu press conference.

The ministry adds that this «is not a matter of negotiation.»

In the White House, the US president and the Israeli prime minister highlighted a series of successes during Trump’s first mandate, including the signing of Abraham’s agreements, which established diplomatic links between Israel and several Arab countries.

Trump said he hopes to renew this effort to normalize relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

«Israel’s best friend»

During the joint press conference, Netanyahu praised Trump and said he helped free US hostages captured by Hamas on October 7.

He also noted that the US president allowed the shipment to Israel of weapons that had been retained during the government of Joe Biden.

«You are the best friend Israel has had in the White House,» he said.

On the proposal of President Trump that the US would take over the Gaza Strip, Netanyahu said that it is an idea «that is worth paying attention.»

He pointed out that Israel’s purpose is to ensure that the territory does not continue to present a danger to his country.

He commented that Trump «sees a different future for Gaza,» adding: «I think it’s something that would change the story.»

Both held a meeting prior to the press conference. The meeting was the first one that Trump performs with an international leader since he returned to the US presidency.

For Netanyahu the visit to Washington is an impulse on the world stage after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him for accusations of war crimes after the conflict in Gaza.

Trump prepares to change new decades of American policy in the Middle East

Paul Adams

Diplomacy correspondent

Even for Donald Trump’s standards, this was somewhat vertiginous.

United States, he says, will seize the Gaza Strip and turn it into a Riviera in the Middle East.

A place full of jobs and opportunities, populated by people around the world, including some Palestinians.

But most of those who have lived there for more than seven decades will have gone, forever.

Trump says his ideas have broad support, but there are no signs of that in the Middle East. Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia have condemned them.

The president also launched an ominous note on the future of the other Palestinian territory, the West Bank.

Trump commented that he was thinking of supporting the idea that Israel has sovereignty there and that he would make an ad in the next four weeks.

He assured that this had nothing to do with the prospects of a solution of two states.

Is any of this serious? With Trump, it’s hard to know.

But during his first term he changed decades of American policy in the Middle East, and seems willing to do the same now.