Trump Repeats Proposal for U.S. Takeover of Gaza Strip

U.S. President Donald Trump is reaffirming his proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip, describing it as a potential “freedom zone” during a business roundtable in Qatar.

Speaking to Qatari officials and business leaders, Trump claimed that Gaza is beyond repair after months of Israeli bombardment and suggested that the U.S. could step in to rebuild and redevelop the war-torn territory. “There’s practically no building standing,” he said. “People are living under the rubble of buildings that collapsed, which is not acceptable.”

“If it’s necessary, I think I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone,” Trump added, saying the plan would involve creating safe housing and eliminating Hamas.

This isn’t the first time Trump has floated such an idea. In February, he proposed redeveloping Gaza and relocating Palestinians elsewhere—a plan that sparked widespread condemnation. Critics, including Palestinian leaders, Arab nations, and the United Nations, labeled the proposal as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened drastically since Israel launched its military campaign following the October 2023 Hamas attack. Nearly 53,000 Palestinians have been killed, and most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are now displaced, according to local health officials.

Trump has described his vision for Gaza as turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” However, Palestinians strongly oppose any plan that involves removing them from their land, drawing parallels to the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe,” when hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes during the creation of Israel.

In response to Trump’s latest remarks, Hamas official Basem Naim acknowledged the president’s influence and potential to help end the war and support Palestinian statehood. But he firmly rejected any notion of a U.S. takeover: “Gaza is an integral part of Palestinian land—it is not real estate for sale on the open market.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced support for Trump’s proposal, calling it “a bold vision.” He also said he and Trump have discussed which countries might be willing to accept Palestinians if they are displaced from Gaza.

In January, Trump suggested that neighboring countries like Jordan and Egypt could take in Gaza’s population, referring to the idea of “cleaning out” the territory. “You’re talking about probably a million and a half people,” he said. “It’s literally a demolition site right now.”

The president’s comments have further fueled tensions surrounding the future of Gaza and have drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and international leaders, who view any forced displacement as a violation of international law.

Trump’s renewed push for U.S. involvement in Gaza comes amid one of the worst humanitarian crises in the region’s history. While he presents the idea as a bold redevelopment plan, critics see it as a dangerous overreach with echoes of past displacements and colonial ambitions. As the conflict grinds on and diplomatic efforts falter, Trump’s proposal underscores the deep divisions over the future of Gaza—and the unresolved question of who gets to decide it.