US President Donald Trump has unveiled an extraordinary redevelopment plan for Gaza, asserting the United States will "take over" and "own" the territory, which he claims could become "the Riviera of the Middle East." This surprise announcement, made during remarks at the White House on February 5, 2025, significantly diverges from decades of established U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, highlighting the administration's intent to lead development efforts within the enclave.
Trump's comments followed discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he declared, "The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it." The president emphasized his administration’s commitment to rebuilding the devastated area by providing "unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area." He mentioned the responsibility of the U.S. to clear destroyed buildings and remove dangerous unexploded ordnance from the region.
Yet, the proposal sparked immediate backlash from Hamas, the governing authority of Gaza, which condemned Trump's plan as reckless. A representative for Hamas stated, "Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass. What is required is an end to the occupation and aggression against our people, not their expulsion from their land." This sentiment captures the broader fear of displacement amid the backdrop of over 15 months of conflict.
Trump's timing is particularly concerning as negotiations for extending the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel are underway; the initial truce ends on March 1. The U.S. president has questioned the longevity of this agreement, declaring, "The strikes could start tomorrow," and casting doubt on the existing framework for peace.
During the announcement, Trump elaborated on his vision for Gaza, asserting, "This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning this piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something magnificent." He portrayed Gaza as poised for international collaboration, envisioning it as "home to the world’s people." Yet he cautioned about the potential for U.S. military involvement, saying, "If it’s necessary, we’ll do what is necessary."
Responses have flowed from various political analysts and advocates who see the proposal as drastically undermining Palestinian society. Omar Baddar, political analyst and human rights advocate, labeled Trump's remarks as disturbing, claiming, "He's effectively saying U.S. policy now is the destruction of Palestinian society, the scattering of Palestinians to neighboring countries. I don’t know what planet we are living on where these statements are coming out of the president of the United States."
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, the sole Palestinian member of the U.S. Congress, fiercely criticized Trump for his proposals, accusing him of "openly calling for ethnic cleansing." Her sentiments were echoed by other Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Chris Murphy, who dismissed the idea by stating plainly, "I have news for you – we aren’t taking over Gaza."
Trump's proposals have also met rigorous scrutiny internationally. Countries like Saudi Arabia have publicly condemned the notion of displacing Palestinians, emphasizing the need for establishing Palestinian statehood before normalizing relations with Israel. Alam Saleh, a Middle East expert, warned, "The proposal for Gazans to leave Gaza would face significant legal, political, and practical challenges, and would likely be met with strong opposition from the international community and regional actors."
Critics argue Trump's plan may not be rooted firmly in reality, with many viewing it instead as part of broader political maneuvers. Jean-Loup Samaan, research fellow at the National University of Singapore, suggested Trump might be leveraging the proposal to secure favorable negotiations with Egypt and Jordan. He noted, "This would amount to a new massive U.S. nation-building enterprise, which is probably not what American voters had in mind during the last election."
Trump’s bold claims hang over the fragile negotiations occurring post-conflict, adding complexity to the stability of Gaza and establishing significant hurdles toward already tenuous U.S. foreign policy goals. The outcome of these developments is uncertain, but the tensions stoked by Trump's statement present immediate challenges for all parties involved.