World Leaders Reject Trump’s Plan to Control Gaza


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International leaders swiftly rejected former President Donald Trump’s unexpected proposal for the United States to assume control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants, drawing criticism from both allies and opponents.

During a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump outlined his vision to transform the conflict-torn region into what he termed “the Riviera of the Middle East.” Netanyahu was observed smiling as Trump detailed plans for new Palestinian settlements outside Gaza and American oversight of the territory’s redevelopment.

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs.”

The announcement comes during a delicate ceasefire period between Israel and Hamas, marked by ongoing hostage-prisoner exchanges.

Regional powers quickly voiced their opposition. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry emphasized the importance of reconstruction without Palestinian displacement, while Saudi Arabia issued a stern response reaffirming its commitment to Palestinian sovereignty.

“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia also stresses what it had previously announced regarding its absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land,” the Saudi statement declared.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed his nation’s unwavering support for a two-state solution, expressing frustration at having to address the proposal. Similar reactions emerged from New Zealand and China, with both nations emphasizing their established positions on Palestinian statehood.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan dismissed the proposal as “wrong and absurd,” while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for UN intervention to protect Palestinian rights. Hamas condemned the suggestion, characterizing it as rewarding rather than punishing what they termed “Zionist occupation.”

The conflict’s toll remains severe, with Hamas’s October 7 attack resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent military response has claimed over 47,000 Palestinian lives and displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, according to local health authorities.

American politicians also criticized Trump’s proposal. Senator Chris Coons labeled it “offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish,” questioning the logic of dismantling existing humanitarian programs while proposing such an ambitious intervention. Representative Rashida Tlaib accused Trump of promoting ethnic cleansing through his resettlement suggestion.

This latest proposal joins Trump’s previous controversial suggestions, including purchasing Greenland, annexing Canada, and taking control of the Panama Canal, leaving observers uncertain whether this represents a serious policy proposal or an opening negotiating position.

 

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