Trump did not dismiss the possibility of deploying U.S. troops to stabilize the conflict-stricken region and transform it into a thriving coastal destination, referring to Gaza’s current situation as a failed endeavor.
WASHINGTON — In a significant shift in Middle East policy, President Donald Trump has proposed that the United States assume control of the Gaza Strip and relocate nearly two million Palestinians to neighboring Arab nations. His vision, he stated, is to transform the war-torn territory into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
This announcement builds on a previous proposal made a week earlier, in which Trump suggested “cleaning out” Gaza and resettling its residents in Egypt and Jordan.
“We’ll take control,” Trump declared during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, marking their first official meeting. “Flatten it, develop it economically, and create an endless number of jobs and housing opportunities for the region’s people.”
The proposal represents a dramatic departure from long-standing U.S. policy in the Middle East and is expected to provoke strong opposition from Palestinian leaders and Arab nations.
Trump also did not rule out deploying U.S. troops to secure Gaza.
Once reconstructed, he suggested that Gaza could be repopulated with people from around the world, including Palestinians.
Trump advocates for relocating Palestinians to nearby nations.
A ceasefire agreement reached in January between Israel and Hamas—facilitated in part by a Trump administration official—outlined a reconstruction period for Gaza lasting three to five years. However, senior Trump administration officials now suggest that the process is likely to extend well beyond that timeframe.
A ceasefire deal brokered in January between Israel and Hamas, with involvement from a Trump administration official, initially set a three-to-five-year timeline for Gaza’s reconstruction. However, senior officials in the administration now indicate that the process will likely take significantly longer.
