WASHINGTON, USA — President Donald Trump has declared that the United States will “take over” Gaza and “own it.”
The statement has sent shockwaves through the international community and drawn fierce criticism from human rights groups, U.S. lawmakers, and foreign governments.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, evening, Trump said his administration envisions transforming the war-ravaged Palestinian territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
He also declined to rule out deploying U.S. troops to facilitate the takeover.
“The only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative,” Trump said. “It’s right now a demolition site. Virtually every building is down.”
Trump Pushes for U.S. ‘Ownership’ of Gaza
Trump’s remarks followed a surprise proposal earlier Tuesday calling for the permanent resettlement of Gaza’s 2 million Palestinian residents in neighbouring Arab countries such as Jordan and Egypt—a plan that echoes the positions of Israel’s far-right factions.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Trump said.
“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,” he added when asked whether military force might be used.
“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.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later reinforced Trump’s comments, writing on X (formerly Twitter): “The United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again. Our pursuit is one of lasting peace in the region for all people.”
Netanyahu Backs Trump’s ‘Outside-the-Box’ Thinking
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who called Trump “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House,” signalled openness to the proposal.
“It’s worth paying attention to this,” Netanyahu said. “Something that could change history.”
He praised Trump for “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas” and showing a “willingness to puncture conventional thinking.”
Global Outrage and Accusations of ‘Ethnic Cleansing’
Trump’s comments immediately sparked backlash, with critics warning that his plan amounts to forced displacement and ethnic cleansing—a violation of international law.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen condemned the proposal, saying:
“Trump’s proposal to push 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza and take ‘ownership’ by force, if necessary, is simply ethnic cleansing by another name.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) issued a statement rejecting Trump’s remarks:
“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States, and President Trump’s call to expel Palestinians from their land is an absolute non-starter.”
Amnesty International USA Executive Director Paul O’Brien also condemned the proposal:
“Removing all Palestinians from Gaza is tantamount to destroying them as a people. Gaza is their home.”
Saudi Arabia and Hamas Respond
The Saudi government firmly rejected any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians and reiterated its position that no normalization with Israel would take place without a Palestinian state.
Hamas, the militant group governing Gaza, called Trump’s comments “expulsion from their land.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations emphasized that world leaders must respect the Palestinian people’s right to remain in Gaza.
Unanswered Questions on Implementation
Trump did not explain how his administration would legally or logistically carry out the plan. He also did not specify under what authority the U.S. could occupy Gaza in the long term.
Still, he insisted that regional leaders supported the idea:
“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.”
The White House has not provided further details on whether Trump’s “ownership” of Gaza would involve direct military occupation, a trustee arrangement, or a privatization effort led by American firms.
Uncertain Future
Trump’s statements mark a stark departure from longstanding U.S. policy supporting a two-state solution.
His comments have also deepened divisions in Washington, with lawmakers and advocacy groups now mobilizing to block any forced displacement of Palestinians.
As the international community grapples with the implications of Trump’s remarks, critics warn that any attempt to unilaterally take over Gaza could inflame tensions across the Middle East and severely damage U.S. credibility on the global stage.
