US President Donald Trump has reiterated his commitment to take over the Gaza Strip and rebuild it, despite condemnation of the plot by a number of countries including US allies.
Speaking after his Super Bowl engagement to journalists Sunday, Trump said: “I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza.
As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it,”
“Other people may do it through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back. There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished,” he added.
Trump described the enclave as “the most dangerous site anywhere in the world to live in,” but said “we’ll make it into a very good site for future development by somebody”.
“We’ll let other countries develop parts of it. It’ll be beautiful. People can come from all over the world and live there.
“But we’re going to take care of the Palestinians. We’re going to make sure they live beautifully and in harmony and in peace, and that they’re not murdered.”
Countries including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, France, Spain, Ireland, Germany, Türkiye, Iran, and Brazil voiced their opposition to any forced displacement. Australia, Russia and China said a two-state solution is the only way forward. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said “it is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing”.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas last week called for the United Nations to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights”, saying that what Trump wanted to do would be “a serious violation of international law”.
