Trump’s plan to control Gaza sparks international outrage

Both allies and foes of the United States have condemned President Donald Trump’s proposal to hand over the Gaza Strip to Washington and forcibly relocate 2 million Palestinians to other countries, turning the territory into a “Middle East Riviera.” Trump made the remarks at a White House news conference on the evening of February 4, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in attendance.

The response has been largely negative. Britain, China, Germany, Ireland, Russia, and Spain have all announced their support for a two-state solution, which envisions an independent Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, living side by side with Israel. While Netanyahu’s government has rejected the concept, the two-state solution has long been the cornerstone of U.S. policy in the region to end decades of conflict and war in the Middle East.

Saudi Arabia, one of the U.S.'s key allies in the Middle East, issued a strong statement, saying its support for an independent Palestinian state remained "firm and unwavering."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also pledged his commitment to the two-state solution:

"Australia's position remains unchanged - this morning, a year ago, a decade ago."

Netanyahu, meanwhile, supported Trump's initiative, saying that one of the goals of the war was to eliminate the threat to Israel from Hamas. However, he said Trump was "taking things to a whole new level."

"I think this could change the course of history, and it's a path worth exploring. We are very pleased with the results," Netanyahu added.

Trump, for his part, avoided answering a question about his position on the creation of two states. According to him, his plan “has nothing to do with a two-state solution, a one-state solution, or anything else.”

Reaction from the Palestinians and the Middle East

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called on the UN to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights,” saying that implementing Trump’s proposal would be a “serious violation of international law.”

Hamas, however, described Trump’s initiative as “a recipe for chaos and tension in the region.”

Even before Trump proposed bringing Gaza under U.S. control, Egypt and Jordan had rejected his idea of settling Palestinians in their territories.

The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said that the reconstruction of Gaza should be carried out “without displacing Palestinians.”

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that the deportation of people from the occupied Gaza Strip by Israel was illegal.

“As recently reiterated by the International Court of Justice, the right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law, to which all States must adhere. Any forcible transfer or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited,” Türk said.

In his speech, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said:

“The search for solutions must not exacerbate the problem. It is essential to adhere to the principles of international law and to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing,” he said.

However, Trump said at a press conference that Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi would eventually agree to his proposal.

“They will open their hearts and give us the land we need to do this, and people will live in peace and harmony,” Trump said.

Trump’s proposal was his first major policy statement on the Middle East since taking office two weeks ago. He said it would be possible to build a resort on the Mediterranean coast where people from different countries could live in peace.

But Palestinian officials say much of Gaza is now in ruins after more than 15 months of Israeli bombing that has killed more than 47,000 people. The Israeli military says 17,000 Hamas fighters are among the dead.

Trump’s initiative came amid a six-week ceasefire that has halted hostilities. Hamas released 18 hostages during the truce, while Israel responded by freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Trump Promises ‘Endless Jobs’ in Gaza

At a press conference, Trump also said the United States would own Gaza, take control of it, and create thousands of jobs in what would be a truly amazing area:

“The United States will control and operate the Gaza Strip. We will own the land, we will clear the unexploded bombs and other weapons, we will demolish the destroyed buildings, and we will create an economy that will provide endless jobs. Everyone I’ve talked to supports this idea – the United States will own the land, take control of it, and create thousands of jobs in what would be a truly amazing area.”

Trump did not specify exactly how he planned to take control of Gaza, but he did not rule out sending in American troops.

“If necessary, we will do it. We will occupy and develop this area,” he said.

White House Statement

White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said yesterday, February 5, that Trump “has not committed to sending troops to Gaza.”

“The United States is not paying to rebuild Gaza. This is an unconventional idea... His goal is to achieve a lasting peace in the Middle East for all the peoples of the region,” she said.

Trump’s proposal to take control of Gaza marked a significant departure from his previous criticism of the American military presence in the region.

She said she was looking at the possibility of “long-term ownership” of Gaza, which would bring “tremendous stability to that part of the Middle East and perhaps to the entire region.”

“This was not a rushed decision,” she said.

Domestic Reaction

Several U.S. lawmakers have joined Trump’s critics. Democratic Senator Chris Coon called the President’s statement “insulting, crazy, dangerous, and ridiculous.”

“The rest of the world believes we are not a reliable partner because our President makes crazy proposals,” he said.

Representative Rashida Tlaib, who is of Palestinian origin, called Trump’s idea of moving the entire population of Gaza “an open call for ethnic cleansing.”

But Trump supporter Representative Nancy Mace jokingly said, “Let’s turn Gaza into Mar-a-Lago,” referring to Trump’s Florida residence.

House Speaker Mike Johnson supported the President’s initiative.

“We’re looking at the details, but we think it’s a good step,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune took a neutral stance, saying, “Trump wants to see a peaceful and secure Middle East and he’s put forward some ideas.”