Important conclusions from Trump’s proposal to “occupy” Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump spoke to reporters at the White House on Tuesday. The president outlined his plan for the United States to “take over” Gaza, relocate Palestinians to neighbouring countries, and transform the war-torn enclave into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump’s startling remarks contradict decades of US foreign policy, which has prioritised a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. Additionally, the president has previously expressed reluctance to intervene in the Middle East.
Here are some facts concerning Trump’s plans for Gaza, which is inhabited by nearly two million Palestinians, including the viability of the idea.
Trump claimed that the US would eventually “take over” and “own” Gaza.
Trump declared, “The United States will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too,” presenting his “long-term ownership” and reconstruction plan for the enclave, much of which has been reduced to rubble following the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Around 92% of homes and 60% of buildings, including hospitals and schools, have been damaged or destroyed by Israeli bombardment, the UN reports.
“We’ll own it and be in charge of levelling the site, removing the damaged buildings, and dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump declared Tuesday.
Trump stated that “we’ll do what is necessary as far as Gaza is concerned,” but he did not rule out the possibility of deploying US soldiers.
Analysts have questioned whether Trump’s proposed land grab is feasible, and it is unclear exactly how it would operate.
Former village chief Lakbhir Singh has criticized the Indian government for leaving young people due to unemployment and a desire for fulfilling lives. He argues that the government should address the root cause of the issue rather than displaying their names and communities on television. Punjab State Minister of Non-resident Indian Affairs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has also requested the federal government to address the issue, particularly US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Trump has viewed Gaza as a potential real estate market,
despite the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The former real estate investor believes that the Gaza Strip has “unbelievably great potential” and could become the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump envisions the world people living in Gaza, and the idea that some Palestinians would eventually settle there could make it an international, unbelievable place. He plans to soon travel to Gaza and echoed his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s 2024 comments, which praised Gaza’s “best weather” and “phenomenal location, on the sea,” describing the waterfront property in Gaza as “very valuable.” Trump’s visit to Gaza is expected to further strengthen the region’s potential.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, is a real estate developer as well. Last week, Witkoff made history by becoming the first senior US official to visit Gaza in years.
The radical right in Israel is happy about Trump’s idea.
Lawmakers applauded Trump’s remarks about occupying the Gaza Strip, and Israel’s far-right has long supported the idea of driving Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank.
In a statement to X on Wednesday, Jewish Power party head Itamar Ben Gvir, who quit as national security minister last month over the truce and hostage release agreement in Gaza, urged Netanyahu Israel follow Trump’s proposal.
“It’s obvious now: this is the only way to solve the Gaza issue—this is the plan for the ‘day after,'” he stated.
Netanyahu stated support for Trump’s agenda, despite Israel’s government having previously denied allegations that it intends to drive Palestinians out of Gaza.