Trump says US will “take over” Gaza
President Trump proposes U.S. control of Gaza, calling it a future “Riviera,” while leaving open the possibility of deploying American troops if necessary.
[:en]Photo: CNN[:]
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will “take over” the Gaza Strip — possibly with the help of US troops. The Palestinians who live there must accept the stunning offer, which would fundamentally reshape the Middle East and lead to the further displacement of more than a million people, reported by CNN.
Trump, during a joint press conference with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, described his vision of the area as a new “Riviera” when the US takes control of the Gaza Strip. The US would be responsible for dismantling all unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, as well as getting rid of destroyed buildings.
Trump did not rule out US military intervention
When asked if he was prepared to send US troops to fill the security vacuum in Gaza, Trump did not rule out doing so if necessary. Trump’s comments are a surprising statement from a sitting US president, especially for Trump. He rose to political power in the United States through his criticism of America’s longest-running wars in the Middle East and his pledge to return US investments to its citizens.
The comments raise a host of questions about how Trump’s land grab will be carried out, what his legal authority will be, and who will pay for the effort. Trump believes the US will bring stability to this part of the Middle East, and perhaps to the entire Middle East, creating thousands of jobs.
The Future of the Gaza Strip
There will be many in the region who will oppose Trump’s plan. Egypt and Jordan have already rejected the idea of taking in additional Palestinian refugees, fearing destabilization and fearing they will never be allowed home. Trump suggested that the future of Gaza should not be about the Palestinians, and that they should not return to Gaza. The only reason they want to return is because they have no alternative, Trump said.
He later added that Palestinians could be among those who return to Gaza, but he does not see Gaza as a permanent home for them. Trump’s proposal that Gazans leave the strip permanently is a provocative position that will appeal to Israel’s most conservative politicians but is generally not desirable for Israel’s neighbors. They have already said they are unwilling to accept any more Palestinian refugees from the enclave.
