PRESIDENT Donald Trump has vowed to take over the devastated Gaza Strip and “level” the site before looking to redevelop it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the Republican’s clear plan to help rebuild the war-torn strip saying it will “change history”.
Trump said America “will do a job with it” if they own the Gaza Strip and take full responsibility to dismantle it safely after years of torment for the people of Palestine.
He added it is a “very dangerous place to be” at the moment and requires America’s help to rebuild completely.
Trumps Middle East envoy said they plan on creating a three to five-year timeline for the reconstruction of Gaza.
Detailed plans are yet to be revealed over the potential demolition plot but the newly-inaugurated President said it will involve destroying the buildings.
move destroyed buildings, and “create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”
He also urged as many countries as possible to take in displaced Palestinians so the upheaval of Gaza can be completed peacefully.
The remarks were made in a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from The White House.
Trump added he has spoken to dozens of people who “love the idea” of the US taking over the strip.
Last week, Trump revealed radical plans to “clean out” the strip after he described Gaza as a “demolition site”.
He said: “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing.
“Almost everything is demolished and people are dying there.”
At the end of January, Trump called on neighbouring Arab nations to take in more Palestinians.
He echoed these thoughts again today and said places like Egypt and Jordan should offer to take in as many people as possible.
Both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority condemned Trump’s proposal last month.
The pre-war population of Gaza was over two million people and over 45,000 people have been killed since October 7, 2023, according to the United Nations.
Trump’s plans would be a stark change from the US’s previous policy which promoted a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
