Former U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a radical and highly controversial plan for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip, resettle Palestinians in other countries—whether they consent or not—and transform the war-ravaged enclave into what he calls “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Trump made the bombshell announcement during a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sending shockwaves through diplomatic circles. His proposal, which lacked concrete details on execution, drew audible gasps from reporters.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” Trump declared, adding that the region would be made “unbelievable” through economic redevelopment and the removal of unexploded bombs and rubble.
Trump claimed that his proposal had backing from the “highest leadership” in the Middle East, pressuring Egypt and Jordan to accept displaced Palestinians—despite both nations, along with Palestinian leaders, outright rejecting the idea.
The former president suggested a long-term U.S. presence in Gaza, envisioning it as a thriving, luxurious destination. “This could be something so magnificent,” he asserted.
Netanyahu, making his first visit to the White House since Trump’s return to power, cautiously welcomed the proposal, calling it an idea that “could change history” and was “worth paying attention to.”
While the visit was initially meant to discuss a second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire, Trump’s unexpected remarks shifted the focus entirely, triggering immediate backlash from Palestinian leaders.
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks, stating, “Our homeland is our homeland. And I think that leaders and people should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people.”
Gazans themselves have rejected the notion of forced resettlement. Hatem Azzam, a 34-year-old resident of Rafah, dismissed Trump’s comments as outrageous. “Trump thinks Gaza is a pile of garbage—absolutely not,” he said.
Trump’s proposal, seen as both impractical and incendiary, has already set off alarm bells among global leaders. The absence of a clear mechanism to relocate over two million Palestinians, along with Trump’s apparent dismissal of their right to remain, has fueled concerns of a major humanitarian crisis.
With Egypt, Jordan, and Palestinian authorities rejecting the idea outright, and Netanyahu signaling cautious interest, the world now waits to see whether Trump’s plan is mere rhetoric or a serious policy move that could reshape the geopolitical landscape.
PIONEER NEWS 