Trump Calls Gaza a ‘Big Real Estate Site,’ Doubles Down on Redevelopment Plans
Former President Donald Trump reiterated his controversial plan to redevelop Gaza, describing the war-torn enclave as a “big real estate site” and suggesting that the United States should take control of the area.
Trump’s Vision for Gaza
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump defended his position:
“I think it’s a big mistake to allow people—the Palestinians, or the people living in Gaza—to go back yet another time. We don’t want Hamas going back. Think of it as a big real estate site, and the United States is going to own it. We’ll slowly—very slowly, we’re in no rush—develop it. We’re going to bring stability to the Middle East soon.”
Trump, a former real estate mogul, compared Gaza to a demolition site, saying it would be “leveled out” and “fixed up”. He also suggested that other Middle Eastern nations should house displaced Palestinians in “beautiful sites.”
Netanyahu Backs Trump’s Proposal
Trump first introduced the idea last Tuesday during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating:
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.”
He later described his vision of Gaza as a new ‘Riviera.’
Netanyahu has since praised the plan, calling it a “revolutionary, creative vision” for the post-war future of Gaza.
“For a whole year, we’ve been told that in the ‘day after,’ we need the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority,” Netanyahu said during a cabinet meeting on Sunday.
“President Trump came with a completely different vision, much better for the state of Israel. A revolutionary, creative vision—and we are discussing it. He is very determined to implement it. This also opens up many possibilities for us.”
Backlash from Palestinian and Regional Leaders
Unsurprisingly, Trump’s remarks have been met with strong opposition from Palestinian leaders, including Hamas, which dismissed the idea as “absurd.”
“Gaza is not a property that can be bought and sold, and it is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land,” said Izzat Al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau. “Dealing with the Palestinian issue with the mentality of a real estate dealer is a recipe for failure.”
Regional leaders have also rejected Trump’s proposal, as it marks a significant break from decades of US foreign policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The issue is expected to be a major topic of discussion when Trump meets with the King of Jordan at the White House this week.
White House: Trump’s Plan is Just the Start
Despite the backlash, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, defended the former president’s comments, calling them an “initial salvo” to bring other regional players to the negotiating table.
“Come to the table with your plan if you don’t like his plan,” Waltz said on NBC’s Meet the Press. He also claimed that the White House has received “all kinds of outreach” following Trump’s proposal.
A Radical Shift in US Policy
Trump’s proposal marks a drastic shift from traditional US foreign policy, which has long supported a negotiated two-state solution. His suggestion that the US “owns” Gaza and could redevelop it as a real estate project adds another layer of controversy to an already sensitive geopolitical crisis.
As discussions continue, Trump’s plan remains highly divisive, sparking debates over sovereignty, international law, and the future of Gaza.
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