Trump says US will ‘personal’ Gaza in redevelopment plan – INA NEWS

United States President Donald Trump has mentioned the US will “take over” and “personal” Gaza after resettling Palestinians elsewhere underneath a redevelopment plan that would see the enclave turn into “the Riviera of the Center East”.

In a shock announcement upending many years of US coverage towards the Israeli-Palestinian battle, Trump mentioned on Tuesday that his administration would spearhead an financial improvement plan within the enclave that may “provide limitless numbers of jobs and housing for the folks of the realm.”

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we’ll do a job with it, too. We’ll personal it,” Trump mentioned on the White on Tuesday after talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, including that Washington can be liable for clearing destroyed buildings and dismantling “harmful unexploded bombs and different weapons.”

Trump mentioned he envisioned the US taking a “long-term possession place” over the enclave.

“This was not a call made flippantly. All people I’ve spoken to loves the thought of america proudly owning that piece of land, creating and creating hundreds of jobs with one thing that will likely be magnificent,” he mentioned.

Trump expressed his hope that displaced Palestinians in Gaza would “go to different international locations of curiosity with humanitarian hearts”, although he urged Palestinians would additionally proceed leaving there.

The US president mentioned Gaza  may turn into house to the “world’s folks”.

“I believe you’ll make that into a world, unbelievable place. I believe the potential within the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I believe all the world – representatives from all around the world will likely be now – Palestinians additionally, Palestinians will stay there,” he mentioned. “Many individuals will stay there.”

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we’ll do a job with it, too.” –President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/aCqLl9Gwwn

— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) February 5, 2025

Requested if US troopers might be despatched to Gaza to take care of safety, Trump mentioned it was a risk.

“So far as Gaza is worried, we’ll do what is important. If it’s mandatory, we’ll do this,” he mentioned.

Netanyahu, who praised Trump because the “best buddy” Israel has ever had, mentioned the US president’s plan was price “listening to” and will “change historical past”.

Trump’s proposals drew swift backlash from Palestinian activists.

Abed Ayoub, government director on the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), described Trump’s proposal as “terrifying” and “insane.”

“It could go towards all norms and worldwide legislation. This isn’t one thing that may be permitted to occur,” Ayoub instructed Al Jazeera.

“However at this level, you’ve bought to ask your self in the event you have a look at the previous yr and a half: how a lot does the worldwide neighborhood, together with Israel, actually care about worldwide legislation and norms?”

Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, a Palestinian-American who’s a resident senior fellow on the Atlantic Council, mentioned that Gaza was not a “actual property improvement challenge for america authorities to personal or take over.”

“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian folks. Distracting from the necessity to provoke political transformation to make sure that Hamas doesn’t stay in management is pointless and dangerous,” Alkhatib mentioned on X.

Democratic lawmakers additionally forged doubt on Trump’s proposal.

“I’ve information for you – we aren’t taking up Gaza. However the media and the chattering class will concentrate on it for just a few days and Trump can have succeeded in distracting everybody from the true story – the billionaires seizing authorities to steal from common folks,” Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator for Connecticut, mentioned on X.

Trump’s extraordinary proposal is all however sure to roil the subsequent spherical negotiations to increase the delicate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Trump has repeatedly taken credit score for the ceasefire deal, which got here into impact on January 19, the day earlier than he took workplace.

He blamed the international coverage of his predecessor Joe Biden for permitting the battle in Gaza to start within the first place.

“No one did something for 4 years besides within the damaging,” Trump mentioned at one level throughout his information convention, referring to Biden’s time period in workplace. “Sadly, the weak spot and incompetence of these previous 4 years[caused]the grave harm across the globe.”

Nonetheless, Trump has forged doubt on the power of the ceasefire and whether or not it will final.

“The strikes may begin tomorrow,” Trump mentioned on Tuesday. “There’s not lots left to strike.”

The preliminary 42-day truce, which is able to see the discharge of 33 Israeli captives and almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, expires on March 1.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the Palestinian group Hamas mentioned that negotiations for a second section of the ceasefire had begun. If agreed to, that section would see the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the liberating of all captives.

However Trump lashed out on the group in his remarks, praising Israel’s efforts to chop off assets to Gaza.