KUALA LUMPUR — US President Donald Trump said the US had stability and strength to take over the Gaza Strip and develop it, but Palestinians should be moved to other locations.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip…We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings.” US media reported him saying during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday.
Netanyahu is the first foreign leader to visit Trump at the White House since the latter became president on Jan 20.
Trump added that there is no permanent future for Palestinians in Gaza and repeated his earlier suggestion that they be placed elsewhere in a new location he wants other Middle East nations to provide.
“Why would they (Palestinians) want to return? The place has been hell.
“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza. I think Gaza has been very unlucky for them. Gaza is not a place for people to be living.”
He said his plans for the Gaza Strip included re-developing it and “creating thousands and thousands of jobs” and to turn the enclave into “something the entire the Middle East can be proud of”.
“There’ll be jobs for everyone not just for specific groups of people but for everybody,” said Trump in the video of the joint press conference which was streamed by The White House’s YouTube channel.
Last month, Trump made similar remarks on relocating Palestinians outside Gaza, and drew firm opposition from Jordan and Egypt.
Earlier this week, other Arab nations stated their disagreement with Trump’s proposal.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League released a joint statement rejecting plans for Palestinians to be removed from Gaza and the West Bank, affirming their right to reside in their homeland. – February 5, 2025