Trump says he wants us to take ownership of the gaza strip

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump Tuesday suggested that displaced Palestinians in Gaza be “permanently” resettled outside the war -oriented territory and suggested that the United States take “ownership” by remodeling the war -oriented territory.

Trump’s bold proposal seems to be sure to roile the next phase of the negotiations intended to expand the exciting ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

The provocative comments came as the negotiations are rising this week with the promise of growing humanitarian help and reconstruction articles to help the people of Gaza recover after more than 15 months of devastating conflict. Now Trump wants to push approx. 1.8 million people to leave the country they have called home and claim it to the United States, perhaps with US troops.

Trump outlined his thinking as he held conversations with the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu In the White House, where the two leaders also discussed the fragile truce and hostages in the Israeli Hamas conflict and shared concern for Iran.

“I don’t think people should return,” Trump said. “You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need somewhere else. I think it should be a place that will make people happy. “

Trump said the United States would take ownership of the Gaza Strip and remodel it after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and transform the territory into “Riviera in the Middle East”, where “the people of the world” – including Palestinians – would live.

“We make sure it’s done world -class,” Trump said. “It will be wonderful for people-Palestinians, Palestinians for the most part we are talking about.”

Egypt, Jordan and other US allies in the Middle East have warned Trump that moving Palestinians from Gaza would threaten the Mideast stability, risking expanding the conflict and undermining a decades long push from the United States and allies to a two-state solution.

Still, Trump insists on the Palestinians “have no alternative” than leaving the “big pile of rubble” that is Gaza. He spoke when his top helpers emphasized that a three-to-five-year-old timeline for reconstruction of the war-oriented territory, as stated in a temporary ceasefire, is not viable.

Last week, both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sissi And the Jordanian King Abdullah II dismissed Trump’s call to resettle Gazans.

But Trump said he believes that Egypt and Jordan – as well as other countries that he did not name – will eventually agree to take Palestinians.

“You look for decades, it’s all dead in Gaza,” Trump said. “This has happened for years. It’s all dead. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in lovely homes, where they can be happy and not shot and not killed and not to be knifeed to death as what happens in Gaza. “

Trump also said he does not exclude implementing US troops in support of Gaza reconstruction. He sees “long -term” American ownership of a conversion of the territory.

“We will do what is needed,” Trump said of the opportunity to insert US troops to fill any security vacuum.

The White House’s focus on Gaza’s future comes as the beginning ceasefire between Israel and Hamas hangs in balance.

Netanyahu is facing competing pressure from his right-wing coalition to end a temporary ceasefire against Hamas militants in Gaza and from war-driven Israelis who want the remaining hostages home and for 15-month conflict Finally.

Saudi -Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority and the Arab League joined to Egypt and Jordan By rejecting plans to move Palestinians out of their territories in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Trump may bet that he can persuade Egypt and Jordan to get around to accept displaced Palestinians because of the significant help provided by the United States Cairo and Amman. Hard line right -wing members of the Netanyahus government have embraced the call to move displaced Palestinians out of Gaza.

“For me, it’s unfair to explain to Palestinians that they may be back in five years,” Trump’s Mideast, Steve Witkoff told journalists. “It’s just inappropriate.”

Trump also signaled that he may be considering an independent Palestinian state as part of a wider two-state solution on the decades of Israel-Palestinian conflict. “Well, many plans change over time,” he told journalists when asked if he was still committed to a plan like the one he laid out in 2020, calling for a Palestinian state. “A lot of death has happened since I traveled and now came back.”

Netanyahu’s arrival at Washington for the first foreign leader visit of Trump’s second period coincides with the prime minister’s popular support Sagging.

The Prime Minister is in the middle of Ugangt testimony in one Ongoing corruption attempt It centers on accusations that he exchanged favors with media mogules and wealthy employees. He has decorated the accusations and said he is the victim of a “witch hunt.”

Being seen with Trump, popular in Israel, can help distract the public from the trial and increase Netanyahus status.

“We have the right leader of Israel who has done a good job,” Trump said of Netanyahu.

Netanyahu also praised Trump’s leadership in getting hostages and truce. “I just want to tell you I’m glad they’re here,” Netanyahu said of Trump and his administration.

It’s Netanyahu’s first journey outside of Israel since The International Criminal Court issued Arresticant in November for him, his former defense minister and Hamas’ killed military chief accusing them of Crimes against humanity During the war in Gaza. The United States does not recognize ICC’s authority over its citizens or territory.

Netanyahu met with the White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and Witkoff Monday to begin the scary mediation work The next phase of a ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli leader said he would send a delegation to Qatar to continue indirect conversations with Hamas, which is communicated by the Gulf Arab country, the first confirmation that these negotiations would continue. Netanyahu also said he would summon his security cabinet to discuss Israel’s requirements for the next phase of the ceasefire when he returns to Israel at the end of the week.

Witkoff meanwhile said he is planning to meet with Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, in Florida on Thursday to discuss the next phase of the ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt have served as key intermediaries with Hamas throughout the conflict.

Netanyahu is under intense pressure from hard-right members of his governing coalition to abandon the ceasefire and resume the fighting in Gaza to eliminate Hamas. Bezalel Smotrich, one of Netanyahus’s most important partners, promises to overthrow the government if the war is not relaunched, a step that could lead to early elections.

Hamas, as has repeated control over GAZA Since the ceasefire began last month, it has said that it will not release hostages in the second phase without ending the war and Israeli forces’ full withdrawal. Netanyahu, meanwhile, claims that Israel is obliged to victory over Hamas and the return of all hostages trapped in October 7, 2023 -attack that triggered the war.

The two leaders also discussed Iran’s nuclear program. Prior to his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump signed an executive order which he said would increase the financial pressure at Iran.

“We won’t allow them to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

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Goldenberg reported from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem and Michelle L. Price contributed reporting.

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Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.