Netanyahu says Trump’s ‘idea’ is ‘worth paying attention’ to prevent ‘Gaza from becoming a threat to Israel again’
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States will ‘take over’ the Gaza Strip ‘in the long term’ following the ceasefire agreed between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) after 18 months of constant Israeli bombings in the Palestinian enclave, which have left more than 47,700 Palestinians dead, while thousands are missing under the rubble.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip (…) We will own it and we will be responsible for dismantling all the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons that are there, leveling the site and getting rid of the destroyed buildings, creating economic development that will provide an unlimited amount of jobs and housing for the people in the area, doing real work, doing something different,” he said in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In this regard, he pointed to the possibility of it being “a long-term ownership position, which will bring great stability to that part of the Middle East and perhaps to the entire” region. “Everyone I’ve spoken to – it was not a decision taken lightly – loves the idea of the US owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know about because now all they see is death and destruction, and debris falling everywhere.”
The tycoon said that “the Gaza Strip has been a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people who live near it, and especially for those who live there, who frankly have had very bad luck.” “It should not go through a reconstruction process by the same people who actually were there and fought for it, lived there and died there, and lived a miserable existence. Instead, we should go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts,” he said.
“There are many who want to do this and build various domains that will eventually be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza, putting an end to the death and destruction and, indeed, to bad luck. This can be paid for by the neighboring countries with great wealth (…) People will be able to live in comfort and peace (…) They will not be shot, killed or destroyed as this civilization of wonderful people has had to endure,” he added.
The US head of state has reiterated his plan to expel the Palestinians from Gaza, saying that “the only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is that they have no other alternative.” “Right now it’s a demolition site. Virtually all the buildings are demolished. They’re living under concrete, which is very dangerous and very precarious. Instead, they can occupy an entire beautiful area with houses and security. They can live their lives in peace and harmony instead of having to go back and do it again,” he said.
Trump explained that he has discussed this idea with Netanyahu in their meetings on “how to work together to ensure the elimination of Hamas and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region,” especially in the last four years, referring to the mandate of his predecessor, Joe Biden. In addition, when asked about the possibility of sending US troops to deal with an eventual security vacuum, he said that, “as far as Gaza is concerned,” he will do “whatever it takes.”
“If it is necessary (to send troops), we will do it. We will take charge of that peace and we will develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs. And it will be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of (…) If the United States, with its stability and its strength, takes ownership of it, I would say that we will be great guardians of something that is very strong, powerful and good for the area, not just for Israel,” said the tenant of the White House during his speech, which was attended by most of the members of his cabinet.
He also defended that his Administration “has been acting quickly to restore confidence in the alliance and rebuild American strength throughout the region.” “There is no going back. If we go back, everything will end up the same as it was a hundred years ago. I am hopeful that this ceasefire can be the beginning of a broader and lasting peace that will put an end to the bloodshed and the deaths once and for all,” he said.
On the current situation in the Palestinian enclave, Trump has expressed his uncertainty about whether the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas will be maintained, although he has taken the opportunity to praise his role in achieving it in the first place: “I can’t tell you whether it will be maintained or not. I think we have done a masterful job, even though the Biden Administration has not helped us much.” However, he has said that he hopes “it will be maintained.”
However, he has ruled out that his plan has anything to do with the internationally recognized two-state solution to overcome the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. “It’s not about two states, or one state, or any other state. It means that we want to give people a chance to live. They have never had one because the Strip has been a hell for the people who live there. It has been horrible. Hamas has made it bad, dangerous, unfair.” However, he has announced his intention to visit Israel, Gaza, Saudi Arabia and “other places in the Middle East.”
NETANYAHU: “IT’S SOMETHING THAT COULD CHANGE HISTORY”
For his part, Netanyahu, who has recalled that among his objectives of the war in Gaza is to ensure that “it never again represents a threat to Israel.” “Trump is taking it to a much higher level: he sees a different future for that land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, with so many attacks against us (…) He has a different idea and I think it’s worth paying attention to. We are negotiating it. He is exploring it with his team, with his staff. I think it’s something that could change history and that it’s really worth choosing this option,” he acknowledged.
The Israeli head of government has also stated that he hopes Trump will help Israel achieve its objectives in Gaza: “Israel has never been stronger and the Iranian terrorist axis has never been weaker. But, as we have already said, to ensure our future and bring peace to our region, we have to finish the job.” “I think that their willingness to break with conventional thinking, which has failed time and time again, their willingness to think outside the box with new ideas will help us achieve our goals,” he added.
On the other hand, Netanyahu said that “peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia is not only possible, but it will happen,” adding that it could have happened during Trump’s first term if it had lasted at least six more months. Before Hamas carried out the attack on October 7, 2023, Riyadh had said that it was getting closer to normalizing diplomatic relations with the Israeli authorities.
