By Talia Mullin / Original to ScheerPost
Numerous international and domestic leaders reacted to President Donald Trump’s announcement, made during a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, proposing the United States “take over” the Gaza Strip.
Along with this declaration, Trump suggests that the Palestinians affected by the conflict should be relocated to Jordan and Egypt. His intention to permanently displace all 2 million residents of the seaside land area is framed as a humanitarian solution to the situation in Gaza, which he has continually referred to as a “demolition site.”
However, leaders of Arab nations have warned that action such as this would threaten stability in the region and inhibit efforts to make peace.
The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia shared their statement on Tuesday evening — 5 p.m. Pacific Standard time and 4 a.m. Arabian Standard time — to X where they rejected this proposal and reaffirmed their commitment to the establishment of a Palestinian state, stating they “will not establish diplomatic relations with Israel without that.”
Additionally they wrote:
“The international community has a duty today to alleviate the severe humanitarian suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain steadfast on their land and will not move from it.”
Egypt and Jordan also promptly rejected Trump’s new plan. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi said that during his call with Trump on Saturday, Trump had not mentioned the mass relocation of Gazans but the two had discussed the Gaza cease-fire. Additionally, the statement from the Egyptian government describing the call insisted on further humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
The Palestinian Mission to the US responded:
Many republicans have responded in support of the proposition. Republican Sen. Nancy Mace of South Carolina took to X to celebrate Trump’s idea for economic development, hoping for Gaza to be turned into Mar-A-Lago.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said, “We’ve got to stand in an unwavering manner with Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East. The strong and decisive move is an important step in that regard.” He went on to say that the plan was “common sense” in order to make the “neighborhood safer.”
Other Republicans like Sen. Lindsey Graham said they did not expect the plan to send American troops into Gaza would be met with excitement but that he would “keep an open mind.” Meanwhile, Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri said he would prefer that the money that would be put into an effort in Gaza “be spent in the United States first.”
These sentiments were echoed by Republican Sen. Rand Paul as well.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who is known for his unwavering support of Israel, called the proposition “provocative” but supported the idea of an American occupation in the Gaza Strip, citing Palestinians refusal or unwillingness “to deliver a government that provided security and economic development for themselves.”
Fetterman is the only Democrat to voice support for the position while Sen. Chris Murphy called the proposal of sending American troops to Gaza “a bad, sick joke.” Similarly, Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware said that Trump’s proposition to end the humanitarian U.S. Agency of International Development while also suggesting that the U.S. take control over Gaza is “insane.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote on X:
Other representatives like Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar took to X to express their dissatisfaction with Trump’s proposition of “ethnic cleansing” and collaboration with a wanted war criminal.
Texas Representative Al Green echoed Tlaib and Omar’s sentiments in an address to the US House where he said he intended to bring articles of impeachment against Trump for his proposed “dastardly” plan.
The likelihood of Green’s proposed impeachment gaining traction is low though other Democrats like Jamie Raskin supported the move.
Director of the Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, wrote on X, “The US will not be occupying Gaza and Donald Trump won’t be building any resorts there. But on the whole it’s good that Trump announces the evil plans of the US openly instead of pretending to care about Palestinians while mass murdering them like the genocidal Democrats.”
Trump’s hosting of Israeli Netanyahu at the White House made him the first world leader to visit Trump since the start of his second term.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump said at a news conference with Netanyahu.
Trump continued:
“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. 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.”
Netanyahu sat smiling next to Trump as he declared his proposition of U.S. control over the strip. Trump went on to say “I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza, I heard that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They live like hell. They live like they’re living in hell. Gaza is not a place for people to be living, and the only reason they want to go back, and I believe this strongly, is because they have no alternative.”
Meanwhile Hamas, who has resumed control over the area, has rejected Trump’s plan and warned it was a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region.”
The militant group released a statement which said, “Instead of holding the Zionist occupation accountable for the crime of genocide and displacement, it is being rewarded, not punished.”
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