On Sunday, President Trump stated his commitment to purchasing and owning the Gaza Strip, while potentially allowing other Middle Eastern countries to assist in the reconstruction of Gaza. Trump views this war-torn region as a “large real estate property.”
During his visit to New Orleans on Sunday to attend the Super Bowl of the National Football League, Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One saying, “I am committed to purchasing and owning the Gaza Strip. In terms of rebuilding Gaza, we may allocate some land to other Middle Eastern countries for development, and others can also build with our support. But we are committed to owning it, controlling it, and ensuring that Hamas will not return.”
“I think allowing Palestinians or residents of Gaza to return is a big mistake, we do not want Hamas to return. Imagine it (Gaza) as a large real estate property, the United States will own it, and we will slowly – very slowly, we are not in a hurry – develop it. We will soon bring stability to the Middle East.”
“There is no place to go back to here. This is a demolition site. The rest will be demolished. Everything will be demolished,” he said.
Trump again suggested that other Middle Eastern countries resettle displaced Palestinian people in “beautiful places.” However, he also mentioned being willing to consider the potential for some Palestinian refugees to enter the United States, depending on specific circumstances.
Last Tuesday, during a joint press conference with Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump proposed this idea for the first time. Trump said, “The United States will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will work there.”
Netanyahu subsequently described Trump’s Gaza plan as a “transformative, creative vision.”
Upon his return to the country from the United States, Netanyahu stated in a cabinet meeting that the discussions with President Trump brought “additional great achievements that can ensure the security of Israel for generations.”
Hamas, in a statement, criticized Trump’s recent comments about purchasing and owning Gaza. Ezzat El Rashq, a Hamas political bureau member, said, “Gaza is not a property that can be bought or sold. It is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land.” He stated that Palestinians will thwart the expulsion plan.
Fox News reported that earlier on Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog stated that Trump will meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and possibly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Herzog did not disclose when or where the meetings will take place, nor discussed the potential content of the meetings. He also noted that Trump will meet with King Abdullah of Jordan in the coming days, an announcement reported by the Jordanian state news agency.
“President Trump will meet with major Arab leaders, starting with King Abdullah and President el-Sisi, and I believe also with the Saudi Crown Prince,” Herzog said.
“We must listen to the opinions of these partners, engage in discussions with them. We also must respect their feelings and see how we can formulate a sustainable future plan,” he said.
Reuters previously reported that Jordan’s King Abdullah plans to inform Trump during their meeting in Washington on February 11 that this proposal would bring chaos to the Middle East region and jeopardize peace between Jordan and Israel.
White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz hinted earlier on Sunday that Trump was sending preliminary signals for other stakeholders in the region to come to the negotiating table to find a solution.
Waltz stated on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” “If you don’t like his plan, bring your plan to negotiate.”
He also added that since Trump’s comments earlier this week, the White House has received “various contacts.”
(Reference: Reports from Reuters and CNN)