On Tuesday night, February 4, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States plans to take control of the Gaza Strip, resettle Palestinians in other countries, and transform the region into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump revealed the proposal, which suggests the U.S. would assume control of the war-torn territory and spearhead its economic development after relocating Palestinian residents to neighboring nations.
This announcement came shortly after Trump introduced a plan advocating for the permanent resettlement of Gazans, referring to the enclave as a “demolition site” amidst a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we’ll handle it,” Trump stated. “We’ll be responsible for clearing dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons. If needed, we’ll develop it, create thousands of jobs, and make it a source of pride for the entire Middle East.”
Trump suggested that the area could become home to “the world’s people” and highlighted its potential to become the region’s “Riviera,” despite the extensive destruction caused by Israel’s military operations following Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack.
The plan contradicts longstanding U.S. policy, which has traditionally supported the inclusion of Gaza within a future Palestinian state alongside the West Bank. Trump did not clarify the legal grounds for U.S. authority over Gaza, home to around two million people with a complex history of conflict. Previous U.S. administrations, including Trump’s first term, avoided deploying American troops there.
Netanyahu refrained from delving into the proposal’s specifics but praised Trump’s “fresh ideas” and “outside-the-box thinking.”
Jonathan Panikoff, a former deputy U.S. national intelligence officer for the Near East, criticized the plan, warning it would require a prolonged U.S. military presence and risk repeating mistakes from past nation-building efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Trump also reiterated his call for Arab countries like Jordan and Egypt to accept displaced Palestinians, asserting that Gazans have no choice but to leave their homes after nearly 16 months of devastating conflict.
This proposal has faced widespread condemnation. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri denounced Trump’s remarks as “an expulsion plan” and vowed that Gazans would resist.
Saudi Arabia also rejected any attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians and reaffirmed its stance against normalizing relations with Israel without the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
