President Donald Trump declared that the United States is “committed to buying and owning” the Gaza Strip, proposing the relocation of its two million Palestinian residents. The controversial plan, unveiled last week, has drawn widespread international condemnation.
Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested that Middle Eastern nations could participate in rebuilding Gaza but insisted that Palestinian refugees would “live beautifully” under the plan.
Both the Palestinian Authority and the armed group Hamas, currently engaged in a 16-month war with Israel, rejected the proposal, reaffirming that “Palestinian land is not for sale.” However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the plan as “revolutionary and creative.”
The proposal comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, where Hamas has released some Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Israel launched a military campaign to dismantle Hamas following a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Since then, over 48,180 people have been killed in Gaza, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, with 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed, severe shortages of food, medicine, and shelter, and millions displaced multiple times.
Trump’s Vision for Post-War Gaza
During a flight to New Orleans for the Super Bowl, Trump reaffirmed his plan.
“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza. Other Middle Eastern states may rebuild parts of it under our guidance. But we will own it, ensuring Hamas never returns,” Trump stated, though he did not clarify who the U.S. would buy Gaza from or how ownership would work.
Trump also said Gaza’s “remainder will be demolished,” but promised future development, suggesting global migration to the territory.
“We’re going to make sure the Palestinians live beautifully, in peace and harmony,” he added, claiming many do not want to return to Gaza but lack alternatives.
International Reactions
Jordan and Egypt, both previously rejecting calls to relocate Palestinian refugees, remain opposed. Jordan’s King Abdullah is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Tuesday, while Trump is also set to discuss the plan with Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Netanyahu praised Trump’s initiative, contrasting it with proposals favoring Palestinian Authority control over Gaza. “President Trump offers a vision much better for Israel—revolutionary and creative,” he said during a cabinet meeting.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority Foreign Ministry condemned the proposal, stating:
“Our land and our people’s rights are not for sale, exchange, or bargaining.”
Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq called the remarks “absurd,” asserting, “Gaza is not property to be sold. It is an integral part of our occupied land.”
The United Nations human rights office warned that any forcible transfer or deportation of Palestinians would violate international law.
Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz criticized Trump’s plan as a “scandal,” declaring that forced relocation is “unacceptable and illegal under international law.”
Saudi Arabia also condemned recent displacement rhetoric, particularly Netanyahu’s remarks suggesting a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia. Egypt called the comments “reckless,” while Jordan said they violated international law.
With diplomatic tensions rising, Trump’s plan has sparked regional and global opposition, raising questions about the future of Gaza and U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
