Trump “committed to buying and owning Gaza”

US President Donald Trump said on February 9th that he is “committed to buying and owning Gaza,” but may permit areas of the land to be rebuilt by Middle Eastern states, according to The National.

“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it, other people may do it, through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back,” Trump told reporters as he was travelling on Air Force One.

The president demanded that he wants to ensure Hamas “doesn’t move back” to controlling 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.”

While travelling to New Orleans to attend the National Football League Super Bowl championship, Trump added that he was open to the idea of some Palestinian refugees entering the US but would consider this case-by-case, Reuters reported.

In response to Trumps viral “Riviera of the Middle East” plans, Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, condemned the president’s remarks in a statement.

 “Gaza is not a property to be sold and bought. It is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land,” he said.

Trump warned the militants that he was beginning to lose patience with the current ceasefire agreement, following the most recent release of Israeli hostages.

“I don’t know how much longer we can take that … at some point we’re going to lose our patience,” Trump said.

The Republican leader said that when he watched the video of the latest release of hostages by Hamas, he felt that they “look like Holocaust survivors.”

“They were in horrible condition. They were emaciated,” he added. “I know we have a deal … they dribble in and keep dribbling in.”

Trump is set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and possibly Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

While Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has championed Trumps plans, calling it “revolutionary”, the idea has sparked international outrage. The redevelopment proposal has also put Saudi Arabia’s chance for establishing ties with Israel at risk.

The National, Reuters