Donald Trump proposes US ownership of Gaza, sparking outrage
US President Donald Trump has said he is committed to America buying and owning Gaza on February 9th, according to The National. This proposal drew sharp criticism from Palestinian leaders and Arab states.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he wants to ensure Hamas “doesn’t move back” to govern the enclave. “There’s nothing to move back into,” he added. “The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished. Everything’s demolished.”
Trump also suggested allowing Middle Eastern countries to assist in the rebuilding efforts but did not specify which states would be involved. He said he would consider allowing some Palestinian refugees to enter the US, though only on a case-by-case basis.
Ezzat El Rashq, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, rejected Trump’s comments, saying Palestinians would resist all efforts to displace them.
The US President also expressed frustration with the ongoing ceasefire negotiations, particularly after seeing footage of Israeli hostages released by Hamas. “They look like Holocaust survivors. They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated,” he said. “I don’t know how much longer we can take that … at some point we’re going to lose our patience.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that Donald Trump was scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and possibly Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Jordan’s King Abdullah II will also visit the White House on February 11th.
Trump’s proposal to take control of Gaza and relocate its population caused immediate backlash. Egypt and Jordan dismissed the idea, while Saudi Arabia warned against any attempt to forcibly remove Palestinians.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, welcomed the plan, calling it “revolutionary.” He described Trump’s approach as “completely different, much better for Israel” and said discussions were ongoing.
According to Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters, Netanyahu strongly defended the proposal on February 6th. He said, “It is a remarkable idea, and I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued and done, because I think it will create a different future for everyone.”
Netanyahu also suggested that Saudi Arabia could “create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia” due to its vast land resources. The kingdom’s foreign ministry responded with a strongly worded statement, condemning what it described as Israel’s “continuous crimes” and “ethnic cleansing.”
Riyadh reiterated that normalisation with Israel remains impossible without the establishment of a Palestinian state. The UAE also expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, with Minister of State Khalifa Al Marar declaring that the kingdom’s sovereignty is a “red line.”
The National
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