Trump says Palestinians should leave Gaza permanently and U.S will ‘take over’ strip

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the United States would "take over" the Gaza Strip, asserting that Palestinians should leave permanently. His remarks, delivered during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, signaled a dramatic shift in U.S. policy.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too," Trump said. "We’ll own it, dismantle the dangerous unexploded bombs, clear the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings."

When asked whether he was willing to deploy U.S. troops to manage security in Gaza, Trump did not dismiss the idea. "As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary.

If it’s necessary, we’ll do that. We’re going to take over that piece and develop it," he said. His remarks represented a bold stance from an American president, particularly given his previous criticism of prolonged U.S. military engagements in the Middle East.

Trump projected a long-term role for the U.S. in the region, asserting that "it will bring great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East."

Trump described the decision as carefully considered, saying, "This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing it, and creating thousands of jobs." He emphasized his background in real estate and claimed to have studied the matter for months. 

Earlier in the day, he suggested that Palestinians relocate to an alternative location provided by Middle Eastern nations. "They’re there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It’s a big pile of rubble right now," he stated before meeting Netanyahu.

Trump’s proposal to permanently remove Palestinians from Gaza aligns with the views of Israel’s conservative politicians but is unlikely to be accepted by neighboring countries. His remarks framed the issue as humanitarian, claiming that returning to Gaza would be undesirable.

"Why would they want to return? The place has been hell," he said. When a reporter interjected, "Because it’s their home," Trump ignored the remark. Instead, he suggested relocating Palestinians to a "good, fresh, beautiful piece of land."

Under repeated questioning, Trump clarified that he did not see Palestinians returning to Gaza. "I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza. I think Gaza has been very unlucky for them. Gaza is not a place for people to be living," he stated.

Sitting next to Trump, Netanyahu smiled as he listened. His visit to Washington was expected to clarify Trump’s stance on the next phase of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

Trump’s skepticism about Gaza as a long-term home for Palestinians is likely to bolster support among Israel’s far-right leaders, who have urged Netanyahu to abandon the temporary truce established last month.

Netanyahu’s visit was scheduled to last several hours and included a joint press conference to highlight U.S.-Israeli solidarity. While Trump and Netanyahu often present a united front, their relationship has been complex, with major consequences for the Middle East. 

Trump has taken credit for the hostages-for-ceasefire agreement brokered just before he entered office, and even members of the outgoing Biden administration acknowledged that his imminent arrival pressured both Israel and Hamas.

Netanyahu praised Trump’s involvement, saying, "I think President Trump added great force and powerful leadership to this effort." However, Trump still faces the challenge of overseeing the final two phases of the three-phase agreement.

He appeared uncertain about its prospects. "I have no assurances that it’ll hold," he admitted in the Oval Office. "And I’ve seen people brutalized. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it."

The next day, Trump struck a slightly more optimistic tone, saying, "We’ll see what happens. We’re dealing with very complicated people, but a deal can absolutely get done." Beyond the ceasefire, Trump and Netanyahu were expected to discuss the future of Gaza itself.

Trump has previously suggested that Gaza should be cleared for rebuilding, with Palestinians relocated to Egypt or Jordan. "I would like to see Jordan, I’d like to see Egypt take some," he reiterated before Netanyahu’s arrival. "Look, the Gaza thing has not worked. It’s never worked."

A broader effort to normalize Israel’s relations with Arab nations, especially Saudi Arabia, was also on the agenda. Former President Joe Biden had pursued such a strategy before the October 7, 2023, attacks, and Trump may see an opportunity to solidify an alliance against Iran.

Netanyahu’s visit could also provide insight into his position on Iran. Speculation has grown that Netanyahu might test Trump’s willingness to support a direct strike on Iran’s nuclear program, particularly given recent setbacks suffered by Iranian proxies and the perceived acceleration of Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Trump has not expressed enthusiasm for initiating a conflict with Iran. "Hopefully that can be worked out without having to worry about it. It would really be nice if that could be worked out without having to go that further step," he said last month when asked about military action against Iran.

His approach contrasts with Netanyahu’s aggressive stance, which has raised concerns about potential military escalation in the region.

Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has been complicated. By the end of Biden’s presidency, U.S.-Israel relations had become strained, with Biden and Netanyahu going months without direct communication.

During the lead-up to the 2024 election, Netanyahu was widely perceived as favoring Trump, anticipating fewer restrictions on Israeli military operations. Trump has already reversed Biden’s policy of withholding heavy bomb shipments to Israel, signaling a willingness to grant Netanyahu’s government broader latitude in Gaza.

Netanyahu and his delegation aimed to secure additional arms sales, including thousands of bombs, missiles, artillery rounds, and other weaponry. Some of these items could take over a year to produce, but bomb deliveries were expected to begin within months.

If Trump approves the sales, it would mark an unprecedented level of U.S. military support for Israel and further cement his commitment to Netanyahu’s government at a time of uncertainty in the Middle East.

Despite his popularity in Israel and Netanyahu’s warm welcome upon his return to Washington, Trump has not always maintained a harmonious relationship with the Israeli leader. After Netanyahu congratulated Biden on his 2020 victory, Trump viewed it as a betrayal.

He later lashed out in an interview with Israeli journalist Barak Ravid, saying, "F**k him." Even after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack, Trump continued to criticize Netanyahu. "Netanyahu was not prepared. He was not prepared, and Israel was not prepared," he said, drawing backlash even from Republican allies.

Netanyahu is likely hoping to put past tensions behind them during this visit. His extended stay in Washington, including planned meetings on Capitol Hill, suggests a broader strategy to secure support from various U.S. policymakers. His visit underscores the delicate balance he must strike between his domestic audience and his international allies.

Trump and Biden share a belief that direct engagement with foreign leaders is the best way to achieve diplomatic progress. Trump’s first foreign guest as president was UK Prime Minister Theresa May, who sought to convince him to remain committed to NATO.

Despite their initial public display of unity, their relationship was later marked by disagreements, particularly over Brexit. In contrast, Trump’s dynamic with Netanyahu carries more immediate and far-reaching implications, with the future of Gaza, Israeli security, and broader Middle Eastern stability hanging in the balance.