President Trump on Thursday doubled down on his proposal for the U.S. to take control of the Gaza Strip and rebuild it, despite pushback from Arab leaders and some Republicans, arguing it would not require American troops.
The president in an early Thursday post on Truth Social expanded on his idea first laid out Tuesday, making clear he was serious about the idea after some advisers sought to clarify or temper aspects of the proposal.
Trump claimed Israel would turn over Gaza to the U.S. “at the conclusion of fighting.” Israel has been at war with Hamas, which controls the strip, for about 16 months, though they are currently under a flimsy ceasefire agreement.
The president said Palestinians “would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free.”
“The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth,” Trump continued. “No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!”
The president during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday suggested Palestinians should permanently relocate out of Gaza and that the U.S. should turn the territory into an economic development. Trump said at the time U.S. troops would be used to secure the Gaza Strip “if it’s necessary.”
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said Trump had not committed to sending U.S. troops to Gaza, and she suggested the relocation of Palestinians may only be temporary.
Palestinian and Arab leaders have rejected Trump’s proposal.
Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian National Authority, said Trump’s comments “represent a serious violation of international law.”
Saudi Arabia reiterated its “absolute rejection of infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, whether through Israeli settlement policies, annexation of Palestinian lands or efforts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.”
Republicans appeared skeptical of the proposal, even as some welcomed it as an unorthodox solution to a long-standing problem.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s closest Senate allies, warned that a U.S.-led attempt to remove Palestinians from Gaza would be “very problematic.”
“All I can say is I want to destroy Hamas, but I’ve been on the phone with Arabs all day. That approach I think will be very problematic,” Graham said. “The idea of Americans going in on the ground in Gaza is a nonstarter for every senator.”
Charlie Kirk, a top Trump ally and influential conservative media voice, said Wednesday the proposal was likely a way to “create more leverage.” But, he added, “the occupation of Gaza is not worth the life of a single Marine from Oklahoma. Period.”
