Donald Trump has revealed his intention to “own” the Gaza Strip, asserting that it would help bring “stability” to the Middle East.
In just 15 days, Trump has made headlines by renaming the Gulf of Mexico, announcing plans to purchase Greenland, seeking to reclaim the Panama Canal, proposing Canada as the 51st U.S. state, and now expressing his desire to “take over” Gaza and remove all Palestinians.
It’s certainly been a hectic few weeks in office, to say the least.
What has Trump said about the Gaza strip?
During a press conference at the White House on Tuesday (February 4), alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump remarked: “The only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative, it’s right now a demolition site. This is just a demolition site. Virtually every building is down.”
Outlining his vision for “peace and harmony,” Trump described plans to resettle all Palestinians living in Gaza.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” he stated.
“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.”
As for where the two million Palestinians currently residing in Gaza would go, the 78-year-old proposed that Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab nations would welcome them into their countries.
Trump doesn’t rule out US military action
When asked about how he planned to relocate the people living in the war-torn region and whether he intended to send US troops to assist, he responded: “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”
He added: “I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East.”
“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.”
“I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months.”
Trump didn’t clarify the legal grounds for implementing his plans.
Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, echoed Trump’s intentions on Twitter, saying: “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.”
‘Ethnic cleansing by another name’
The proposal has faced strong backlash from human rights groups, with many comparing it to “ethnic cleansing under a different name.”
Chris Van Hollen, the Democratic senator from Maryland, expressed his concerns, 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. This declaration will give ammunition to Iran and other adversaries while undermining our Arab partners in the region. It defies decades of bipartisan American support for a two-state solution… Congress must stand up to this dangerous and reckless scheme.”
Additionally, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim advocacy organization, released a statement condemning the plan, saying: “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. If the Palestinian people were ever somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity would spark widespread conflict, put the final nail in the coffin of international law, and destroy what remains of our nation’s international image and standing.”
