In a surprising declaration during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States should “take over” Gaza and assume control of the war-torn territory.
Trump’s remarks, which effectively implied U.S. ownership of Gaza, drew immediate scrutiny, with critics warning that such a move would amount to an endorsement of the displacement of Palestinians.
Expanding on his vision, Trump likened Gaza’s potential to that of a luxury coastal destination, calling it the “Riviera of the Middle East.” He also declined to rule out the possibility of deploying U.S. troops to facilitate such a transformation.
“The only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative,” Trump stated during the joint press conference. “Right now, it’s a demolition site. Virtually every building is down.”
Trump suggested that Palestinians could relocate elsewhere, adding, “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”
His comments mark a dramatic departure from traditional U.S. foreign policy and are likely to fuel further debate on American involvement in the region. – The Guardian
