DUBAI, Feb 5: The proposal from President Donald Trump for the United States to “take over” the Gaza Strip and permanently relocate its Palestinian residents received immediate backlash from both American allies and adversaries on Wednesday.
Trump made these comments during a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appeared to agree as the president outlined a vision to establish new settlements for Palestinians beyond Gaza and for the US to assume “ownership” of the devastated area, transforming it into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
“The US will take control of the Gaza Strip, and we will handle it as well,” Trump stated. “We will own it and be accountable for clearing out all the dangerous unexploded bombs and other munitions on the site, demolishing existing structures, and developing the area to provide countless job opportunities.”
These remarks were made in the context of a tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which hostages have been exchanged for prisoners detained by Israel.
Egypt, Jordan, and other US allies in the Middle East quickly dismissed the notion of relocating over 2 million Palestinians from Gaza to other regions.
Saudi Arabia, a key US ally, responded promptly to Trump’s suggestion regarding the Gaza Strip with a strong statement, reiterating its long-standing call for an independent Palestinian state as a “firm and unwavering position.”
“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia emphasizes its previous stance against any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement actions, the annexation of Palestinian territories, or attempts to displace Palestinians from their lands,” the statement asserted.
In a similar vein, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese informed reporters in Canberra that Australia has consistently supported a two-state solution in the Middle East and that this stance remains unchanged.
“Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, last year, and a decade ago,” he affirmed.
Trump has stirred controversy in the past—upsetting long-time allies—by suggesting the purchase of Greenland, the annexation of Canada, and potential control over the Panama Canal. It remains uncertain whether the Gaza takeover plan is a calculated strategy or merely a negotiating tactic.
Albanese, whose country is one of America’s strongest allies in the Asia-Pacific region, appeared frustrated when asked about the Gaza takeover proposal, emphasizing that his government’s policies “will be consistent.”
“I will not provide daily commentary on statements from the US president as Australia’s prime minister,” he remarked. “My duty is to uphold Australia’s position.”
New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry released a statement reiterating its “long-standing support for a two-state solution” and added that it will not comment on every international proposal.
Hamas, which initiated the conflict with its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, deemed Trump’s suggestion a “recipe for chaos and tension in the region.”
“Instead of holding the Zionist occupation responsible for its acts of genocide and displacement, it is being rewarded, not held accountable,” the militant group stated.
In the aforementioned attack, Hamas claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 individuals, primarily civilians, while taking around 250 hostages.
Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensive has reportedly resulted in more than 47,000 Palestinian deaths, more than half of whom were women and children, according to local health officials who did not clarify how many casualties were militants. The ongoing conflict has devastated many cities and displaced roughly 90 percent of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million.
In the United States, opposition politicians were quick to denounce Trump’s proposal, with Democratic Senator Chris Coons calling it “offensive, insane, dangerous, and foolish.”
The proposal “could lead the global community to view us as an unbalanced and unreliable ally due to our president’s irrational suggestions,” Coons commented, highlighting the irony that the proposal surfaced shortly after Trump moved to dismantle the US Agency for International Development.
“Why would we abandon decades of established humanitarian programs globally and then dive into one of the world’s most significant humanitarian crises?” Coons questioned.
Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American congresswoman from Michigan, accused Trump via social media of “openly endorsing ethnic cleansing” through his suggestion of resettling Gaza’s entire population. (AP)
