President Donald Trump has ignited a global uproar by declaring that the US will “take over” Gaza and “own” the territory, making the jaw-dropping announcement during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who appeared visibly taken aback by the audacity of the statement.
Trump stated that the US would “own” Gaza, taking responsibility for the area and for dismantling dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons left behind from the ongoing conflict. He also proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza to other regions, areas where local leaders have previously rejected such moves, and transforming the land into what he described as “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
At the White House, Trump told reporters, “Instead of having to go back and do it again, the US will take over the Gaza Strip. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.” He added that he saw “a long-term ownership position” bringing “great stability to that part of the Middle East.”
This idea has already been rejected by neighboring countries like Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Egypt. The Palestinian ambassador to the UN responded, stating, “Our homeland is our homeland.”
Gaza has been heavily damaged during the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas, with more than 47,000 lives lost in the fighting.
In the US, Democrats expressed disbelief and frustration over Trump’s proposal. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy criticized the idea on social media, writing, “He’s totally lost it. A US invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of US troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It’s like a bad, sick joke.”
Senator Richard Blumenthal, also from Connecticut, called the plan “crazy” and “catastrophic,” warning that it could harm progress toward peace and stability. He said it would “sustain and expand the Abraham Accords” and could derail efforts to free hostages.
Michigan Representative Rashida Tlaib also spoke out, calling Trump’s remarks “ethnic cleansing” and accusing him of being “perfectly fine cutting off working Americans from federal funds while the funding to the Israeli government continues flowing.”
This plan has sparked major concern and debate, with many seeing it as an extreme and dangerous course of action in an already volatile region.
Watch Trump’s remarks in the video below:
