Palestinian militant group Hamas has strongly condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip, calling it a “recipe for chaos.” Saudi Arabia and Australia have also rejected Trump’s comments, emphasizing the need for a two-state solution.
During a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump suggested that the U.S. should “own” Gaza and take responsibility for clearing unexploded bombs and weapons from the territory. “We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump stated.
Netanyahu appeared supportive of the idea, saying the U.S. taking “long-term ownership” of Gaza could “change history.”
Hamas, which governs Gaza, quickly dismissed Trump’s remarks. “We reject Trump’s statements,” Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri told Newsweek. “We consider them a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region. Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass.”
The militant group’s rejection comes amid an ongoing ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which took effect on January 19. The agreement, meant to pause hostilities, is in its first phase and is set to last until March 1. The conflict escalated following Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023.
Saudi Arabia has also rejected Trump’s proposal, reaffirming its stance on the creation of an independent Palestinian state. The Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated that diplomatic ties with Israel would depend on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“Saudi support for a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering,” the ministry said in a statement reported by The New York Times.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese weighed in on Trump’s proposal, reiterating his country’s longstanding support for a two-state solution.
“Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year,” Albanese said in a press briefing on Wednesday. “The Australian government supports, on a bipartisan basis, a two-state solution.”
Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza and turn the territory into a U.S.-controlled area has drawn widespread criticism from international leaders, further complicating an already volatile situation in the Middle East.
newsweek.com
