Democratic Rep. Gregory Meeks (N.Y.), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said President Trump’s proposal for taking over Gaza “makes no sense.”
Meeks joined CNN on Wednesday to discuss the idea floated by Trump while meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S.
“It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “It’s again, the president just going off on his own.”
Meeks noted that there are several countries like Egypt or Saudia Arabia near Gaza that had the option to take over the region, but did not do so. It would involve billions or trillions of dollars, “systematically remove people” from their homeland and would go against international norms, he said.
“It just makes no sense,” Meeks reiterated. “It’s a violation of law, and it is inhumane.”
Meeks told The Hill that he believes taking over Gaza would be colonization, but it’s an idea he doesn’t take seriously at all.
“This guy just talks off the top of his head,” he said, adding, “It just doesn’t make any rational and common sense.”
The New York Democrat said the human impact needs to be examined and there are many unanswered questions about Trump’s proposal.
“What’s going to happen to all of those people? He just said all the … Palestinians have to leave. And then there’s [another] question about what happens to those people. Do they come back? Do they have the right of return?” Meeks questioned.
The president’s remarks about Gaza on Tuesday were some of his most extreme comments on the topic, particularly as the nearly 2 million Palestinians hope to have their own state. Trump suggested the U.S. would develop the land, but didn’t provide details on who would be able to live on the land.
Meeks said he believes Trump is attempting to cause chaos and move people’s minds away from things he is not doing.
“He’s not reducing the cost of food. He’s not making life better for the American people. He’s not making homes more affordable for people, reducing the cost of rent. He’s not doing any of those things that are affecting everyday lives of Americans,” he said on CNN.
Mike Lillis contributed reporting.
