Donald Trump sees US having 'long-term ownership' over Gaza
President Donald Trump doubled-down on his claim that Gaza is a "demolition site" and that its residents should be resettled in neighboring Arab states.
President Donald Trump suggested that the United States should assume long-term ownership of the Gaza Strip while doubling down Palestinians in Gaza resettling elsewhere.
The remarks were made at a Tuesday evening press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the first foreign leader to meet with President Trump.
"I do see a long-term ownership position," Trump said of Gaza. "This is not a decision made lightly."
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He continued, "Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land."
"The U.S. 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 said the plan would create "thousands of jobs" and did not dismiss the idea of sending U.S. troops to Gaza.
Trump said of deploying troops, "As far as Gaza is concerned, we'll do what is necessary. If it's necessary, we'll do that."
Trump also referred to Gaza as a "demolition site" and insisted that Palestinians from Gaza resettle in neighboring Arab countries, such as Egypt, Jordan or Qatar, a plan that both Palestinians and neighboring Arab countries have already rejected.
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“I think Jordan and Egypt — they say they’re not going to accept, but I say they will. But I think other countries will accept also.
"If you look at Gaza there’s hardly a building standing, and the ones that are standing are going to collapse.
"You can’t live in Gaza right now. You need another location, and I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy.
"You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza. This has been happening for years, it’s all death."
The statements come after President Trump sent an arms shipment being withheld by the Biden administration to Israel and lifted sanctions meant to curb violence of radical Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
Violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank have skyrocketed following the announcement of the ceasefire deal.
