Washington/Jerusalem/Gaza: U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his controversial plan to take control of war-ravaged Gaza, framing it as a real estate opportunity while suggesting that other Middle Eastern states could handle its reconstruction.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on his way to the Super Bowl, Trump declared, “We’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure Hamas doesn’t move back. There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site.”
The remarks have triggered a wave of condemnation. Palestinian group Hamas dismissed Trump’s comments as “absurd,” stating that “Gaza is not a property that can be bought and sold.” Izzat al-Risheq, a senior Hamas official, warned that “all displacement and deportation plans will fail.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, praised Trump’s proposal as “revolutionary” and “creative.” His support comes as Israel faces mounting criticism over its military operations in Gaza.
Trump’s plan has also raised tensions in the region. Saudi Arabia condemned Netanyahu’s suggestion that parts of its land be used for a future Palestinian state, while Egypt and Jordan have firmly rejected any resettlement of displaced Palestinians within their borders.
Despite widespread backlash, Trump insists that displaced Palestinians would prefer alternative homes outside Gaza. “The only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is they don’t have an alternative,” he claimed.
The proposal, described as an attempt to transform Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” has been widely dismissed as unrealistic, lacking clear legal and logistical frameworks. Trump’s own administration has struggled to clarify how such a plan would be implemented, with U.S. officials backtracking on earlier suggestions of deploying American troops.
As international opposition mounts, Trump’s Gaza vision faces serious obstacles, both diplomatically and on the ground.
Source: Al Jazeera
