Trump Declares U.S. Will Take Control of Gaza After Palestinian Resettlement

US President Donald Trump proposed taking ownership of the Gaza Strip and redeveloping it

Trump Makes Stunning Declaration: U.S. Seeks Control Over Gaza Strip

In a surprising statement, President Donald Trump announced that the United States intends to take control of the Gaza Strip. This revelation came shortly after he proposed the permanent relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to nearby nations. Trump referred to the region—where a tentative Israel-Hamas ceasefire is currently in effect—as a "demolition site."

Key Points:

• Trump's Proposal: Advocates for relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries.
• Netanyahu's Response: Describes Trump's approach as "thinking outside the box."
• Lack of Clarity: No specifics provided on the legal authority behind a potential U.S. takeover.

In a dramatic policy shift, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the United States intends to assume control over the war-torn Gaza Strip following the relocation of its Palestinian population. He claimed the U.S. would focus on rebuilding and developing the area, a move that would mark a sharp departure from longstanding American policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Trump made this unexpected declaration during a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, offering no specifics on how such a plan would be implemented.

The announcement followed an earlier proposal from Trump, in which he advocated for the permanent resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to nearby countries. Describing the region—where a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in place—as a “demolition site,” Trump outlined his vision for the future.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too," Trump told reporters. "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site."

"If it's necessary, we'll do that, we're going to take over that piece, we're going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it'll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of," he added.

When asked about the future residents of the enclave, Trump suggested Gaza could become a destination for "the world's people" and envisioned it evolving into "the Riviera of the Middle East."

Netanyahu, whose government had waged more than a year of intense military operations against Hamas in Gaza, praised Trump’s approach. "He is thinking outside the box with fresh ideas," the Israeli leader said, adding that Trump was "showing willingness to puncture conventional thinking."

Questions About U.S. Authority

Despite the bold declaration, Trump did not clarify the legal basis for the U.S. assuming control of Gaza or how it could sustain long-term governance of the territory.

"I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East," Trump said when pressed on the issue. He also claimed to have spoken with regional leaders, whom he said backed the plan.

"I've studied this very closely over a lot of months," he added, saying he intended to visit Gaza but without specifying a timeline.

Trump also reiterated his call for Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations to absorb Palestinian refugees, arguing that Gaza’s population had "no alternative" but to leave the coastal territory after the devastation caused by nearly 16 months of conflict between Israel and Hamas.

However, this time, Trump explicitly supported the idea of permanent resettlement, escalating his stance from previous statements, which had already been met with firm rejection by Arab leaders.

The forced displacement of Gaza’s population would likely violate international law and face fierce opposition, not only from Middle Eastern nations but also from Washington’s Western allies. Some human rights groups have likened the proposal to ethnic cleansing.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri rejected Trump’s remarks, calling them "a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass."

The president offered no details on how such a resettlement process would unfold. His proposal aligns with the vision of Israel’s far-right factions while contradicting former President Joe Biden’s pledge against mass displacement of Palestinians.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its opposition to any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians from their land. The kingdom also reiterated that it would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel unless a Palestinian state was recognized.

'Demolition Site'

Trump’s remarks came just two weeks into his second term as he hosted Netanyahu at the White House to discuss the fragile Gaza ceasefire, strategies for countering Iran, and efforts to advance an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal.

The Gaza proposal was one of several bold statements Trump has made in his early days back in office. Recently, he has also floated the idea of a U.S. takeover of Greenland, issued a warning to Panama regarding its control of the Panama Canal, and suggested that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.

"I don't know how they (Palestinians) could want to stay," Trump said when asked about regional reactions to his proposal.

Speaking alongside Netanyahu in the Oval Office, Trump reinforced his position that Palestinians should permanently leave Gaza for a "better life in nice homes, where they can be happy and not be shot, not be killed."

"They are not going to want to go back to Gaza," he insisted.

At the joint press conference following their discussions, Trump described Gaza as a "symbol of death and destruction" and argued that Palestinians should be housed in "various domains" across other countries. He reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to taking control of Gaza, "leveling the site," and driving economic development—without explaining how this would be achieved.

Before entering politics, Trump built a career in real estate development, and his sweeping vision for Gaza reflected his background. However, he avoided specifics on how the U.S. would legally claim and secure the region.

He also provided little clarity on where displaced Palestinians would be relocated, expressing confidence that Egypt and Jordan would accommodate many of them—despite both nations having already rejected such a plan.

Trump highlighted the potential for Gaza, stating that, if rebuilt, it could become "the Riviera of the Middle East."

Netanyahu, whom Trump referred to by his nickname "Bibi," refrained from elaborating on the proposal but applauded Trump’s willingness to explore new approaches.