President Trump said Tuesday that Palestinians have “no alternative” but to leave Gaza and find a new place for permanent relocation.

“It would be my hope that we could do something really nice, really good, where they wouldn’t want to return. Why would they want to return? The place has been hell,” \Mr. Trump said, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seated next to him.

“I hope that we can do something where they wouldn’t want to go back. Who would want to go back? They experienced nothing but death and destruction,” the president said.

Mr. Trump said he would like to see Jordan and Egypt take in some Palestinian refugees.

“Look, the Gaza thing has not worked. It’s never worked,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office after signing executive orders. “I feel very differently about Gaza than a lot of people. I think they should get a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land, and we get some people to put up the money to build it and make it nice and make it habitable and enjoyable.”

Many parts of Gaza have been destroyed during Israel’s military invasion that was a response to Hamas’ terrorist attacks in Israel. Thousands have been killed and many are homeless.

When asked about those who don’t want to leave Gaza, Mr. Trump said he doesn’t “know how they could want to stay.”

“It’s a demolition site. It’s a pure demolition site,” he said. “If we could find the right piece of land, or numerous pieces of land, and build them some really nice places with plenty of money in the area, that’s for sure. I think that would be a lot better than going back to Gaza, which has had decades and decades of death.”

He said Palestinians “have no alternative right now.”

“What do they have? It is a big pile of rubble right now,” he said, adding that it’s “very dangerous” in Gaza.

“I would think if they had an option of moving, either in a large group or various smaller groups, to take care of the close to 2 million people, I would think that they would be thrilled to do,” he said.

The idea of Egypt and Jordan taking refugees has not been met with enthusiasm. Jordan’s foreign minister, Ayman Safadi, said the country’s rejection of the idea is “firm and unwavering.”

The foreign minister of Egypt has said the idea “risks expanding the conflict in the region.”

• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.