In a shocking announcement, US President Donald Trump revealed that the United States will take control of the Gaza Strip, dismantle weapons, clear destroyed buildings, and work on economic development in the region. The statement came during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will take care of it. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons and clearing the ruined structures. We’ll create economic development that will provide unlimited jobs and housing for the people of the area,” Trump said.
Trump also expressed optimism that the ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas could pave the way for a broader, lasting peace in the region. “This could be the beginning of a larger, more enduring peace that ends the bloodshed once and for all,” he added.
In a related move, Trump announced that the United States is withdrawing from the United Nations Human Rights Council, calling it “anti-Semitic,” and cutting support for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has been criticized for alleged ties to Hamas.
“Today, the United States withdrew from the anti-Semitic UN Human Rights Council and ended all support for the UN Relief and Works Agency, which funneled money to Hamas,” Trump stated. “We will also restore our maximum pressure policy on Iran, imposing the toughest sanctions possible to stop their oil exports and curtail their funding of terror.”
Earlier, Trump hinted at a future for Gaza without Palestinians, stressing the need for “great stability” in the Middle East. “I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said in the Oval Office. “Gaza is not a place for people to live. They live like they’re in hell, and the only reason they want to go back is because they have no alternative.”
Trump also floated the idea of the US taking long-term ownership of Gaza, saying it could bring stability to the entire Middle East. “I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability,” Trump remarked, adding, “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land and creating thousands of jobs.”
The US President’s meeting with Netanyahu, who is the first foreign leader to visit after Trump’s return to office, marked another chapter in the ongoing US-Israel relationship. Notably, Trump had suggested similar ideas about Gaza last month, including the relocation of Palestinians to neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt.
As the US intensifies its stance on Gaza, the situation remains highly complex and sensitive, with ongoing debates about the future of the region.