President Trump strived Thursday to clarify his plans for the Gaza Strip, saying Israel would turn over the war-torn enclave to the U.S. “at the conclusion of fighting.”

Mr. Trump said Palestinians would be resettled in “far safer and more beautiful communities” with new and modern homes.

“They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free,” he posted on Truth Social.  

Mr. Trump this week shocked the world by floating a plan to take over and redevelop the strip of land between Egypt and Israel that’s been reduced to rubble by Israeli bombardments. Israel invaded Gaza in response to terror raids on Oct. 7, 2023, by the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

“The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth,” Mr. Trump posted Thursday.

Mr. Trump announced his plan Tuesday at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said a U.S. takeover of Gaza — and relocating the 2.2 million Palestinians who live there, to create a “Riviera of the Middle East” — was an option on the table.

SEE ALSO: White House says Trump’s plan for Palestinian relocation would not be permanent

Arab countries said they weren’t interested in taking Palestinians, and the people of Gaza said they were being forced out of their homeland.

The White House defended the plan, saying Mr. Trump was proposing an “out of the box” solution that would allow Middle East factions to live in peace.

“No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!” Mr. Trump posted.

• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.