5 Feb 2025

Trump’s plan to ‘take over’ Gaza

Washington Correspondent

President Trump announced at the White House that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip, level it and redevelop it into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

What happened in the White House last night was nothing short of stunning.

We were there in the east room for the press conference with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and journalists simply stared at each other in utter astonishment when President Trump dropped his unprecedented news – that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip, level it and redevelop it into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

This would be a new economic area that would be enjoyed by “the world’s people.”

“I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable,” he said, adding that Palestinians could live there too.

But not before nearly 2 million of them would have to permanently relocate out of Gaza. Trump didn’t say where, though he’d spent the day suggesting that Egypt and Jordan take in the Palestinian refugees, even though they’ve made clear they won’t. Presumably Trump thinks he can strong-arm them, just as he’s forced Colombia, Canada and Mexico to do his bidding on the border too.

But if they – and the Palestinians – don’t oblige, then what? Another stunning revelation as Trump said he hadn’t ruled out using the military to make his idea a reality. Was he talking about an American invasion of Gaza? It wasn’t clear. He matter-of-factly said America would clear out all the unexploded munitions and then rebuild Gaza from scratch.

“If it’s necessary, we’ll do that, we’re going to take over that piece, we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”

President Trump dropped his unprecedented news – that the United States would take over the Gaza Strip

Never mind the reality that the forced displacement and resettling of the Gazan population would be illegal under international law and many believe would amount to a form of ethnic cleansing.

Had Trump thought of that? If he had, he didn’t say. But this was the real estate developer talking, it was clear he’d leave the thorny details of his plan for someone else to work out.

But that won’t be easy. Because there’s little sign the Palestinians want to leave their home, even less want to see it transformed into a Vegas style Middle East mecca for Trump hotels, casinos and nightclubs.

Trump was careful to frame his plan as a humanitarian rescue for the Palestinians, saying Gaza was a hellhole and a place full of death where history was bound to go on and on repeating itself. Instead, he was offering American aid for the war torn enclave , ironically, the very week he’d shut down America’s foreign aid agency, USAID and put its 10,000 staff on forced leave.

For his part, Prime Minister Netanyahu watched on beaming, praising Trump as someone who was prepared to “cut to the chase.”

“This is the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace,” he said.

Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference with Donald Trump at the White House

And yet Trump’s proposal is much more likely to do the opposite. To stoke regional fury and potentially upend the fragile peace process in Gaza just as it was about to enter its critical second phase.

For one, Saudi Arabia made its position abundantly clear. Under no circumstances would the Kingdom establish ties with Israel – Trump and Netanyahu’s ultimate goal – without the creation of a Palestinian state. It also reiterated it would reject any attempt to displace the Palestinians from their land.

Trump insists others in the region “love” the idea but let’s see what tomorrow brings. Give the Middle East – and the world – the time to digest Trump’s latest bombshell.

And by the way it’s only Tuesday, of week 3.