Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said on Monday that he thinks there’s “very little appetite” among Americans for a U.S. takeover of Gaza.
“One thing I will say, there’s very little appetite that I’ve seen in the United States Senate for America to take over Gaza in any way, shape or form,” Graham said at a press conference in Israel, standing among bipartisan Senate colleagues on a delegation overseas.
“I think that would be a difficult sell in South Carolina,” Graham said.
Graham’s remarks come as President Trump doubles down on his controversial plan for the United States to take over the war-torn Gaza and push nearly 2 million Palestinians in the region to resettle elsewhere.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job — whether 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,” Trump said at a press conference earlier this month, laying out his plan.
“Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area, do a real job, do something different,” Trump said at the time.
Graham, a close Trump ally who’s worked extensively with leaders in the region, said at the press conference that he spoke that evening to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other government officials about Trump’s plan in Gaza.
“Their view is that Palestinians should be given the opportunity to leave if they would like,” Graham said about his conversation with the Israeli officials.
“I support that,” Graham added.
Graham made clear, however, that it would be up to the Palestinians to decide whether they leave.
“I will work with Israel to find countries that would host Palestinians if they choose to leave, but we’re not talking about a forced exodus by Israel or anyone else,” he added.
