President Trump on Tuesday announced a dramatic proposal to take over Gaza during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
Mr. Trump envisions transforming the war-torn region into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East,” suggesting the United States would assume ownership and responsibility for reconstruction.
The plan includes clearing unexploded ordnance, leveling damaged buildings and developing the area into an economic hub with “unlimited jobs and housing.” Mr. Trump also called for the permanent relocation of Gaza’s 2.2 million Palestinian residents, arguing they would prefer not to return to what he described as a “hellhole” and “demolition site.”
Mr. Netanyahu, while focused on Israel’s primary goals of destroying Hamas, recovering hostages and preventing future threats from Gaza, expressed interest in Mr. Trump’s vision, saying it was “worth paying attention to.”
The proposal faced immediate criticism from Democrats, with Sen. Chris Murphy calling it “a bad sick joke” and warning it could lead to massive U.S. military casualties and prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
On the same day, Mr. Trump signed two significant executive orders. The first reinstated his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, aiming to prevent nuclear weapons development and reduce Iranian oil exports to zero. The second withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Human Rights Council and the Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian refugees, while calling for a review of American involvement in UNESCO and U.N. funding.
Read more: Trump says U.S. will ’take over’ Gaza strip, won’t rule out military force
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