Trump Envisions US Control & Reconstruction of Gaza; Resettlement of Palestinians

Trump Envisions US Control & Reconstruction of Gaza; Resettlement of Palestinians

By:  Fern Sidman

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference at the White House on Tuesday following a high-stakes meeting that highlighted the strength and endurance of the U.S.-Israel alliance. As CBS News reported, this was the first official visit from a foreign leader since Trump’s return to office, a clear signal of the administration’s prioritization of its relationship with the Jewish state.

Trump on deploying U.S. troops to Gaza: “If it’s necessary,” adding that he envisions a “long-term ownership position” in the blockaded enclave.

President Trump suggested on Tuesday that the United States could take direct ownership of Gaza and oversee its reconstruction, a dramatic shift in U.S. policy that would fundamentally alter the region’s geopolitical landscape. As The Associated Press reported, Trump also refused to rule out deploying American troops to secure Gaza, stating that the U.S. would “do what is necessary” to stabilize the area. “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that,” Trump said when asked whether he would commit troops to the effort.

🇺🇸🇵🇸🤯 SHOCKING: Trump Announces U.S. Takeover of Gaza Strip: ‘We’ll Own It’

In a significant policy shift, President Donald Trump declared that the United States will “take over and own” the Gaza Strip. He emphasized that “the same people” should not be responsible for… pic.twitter.com/WoR4GmAkBV

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) February 5, 2025

“You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza,” Trump said. “This has been happening for years. It’s all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”

In a surprising shift, Trump also suggested that his stance on Palestinian statehood may be evolving. As the AP report indicated, when asked if he remained committed to the two-state solution outlined in his 2020 peace plan, Trump responded, “Well, a lot of plans change with time.” He acknowledged that the landscape has changed dramatically since his first term, stating, “A lot of death has occurred since I left and now came back. Now we are faced with a situation that’s different — in some ways better and in some ways worse. But we are faced with a very complex and difficult situation that we’ll solve.”

🇮🇱🇺🇸-Trump on the war with Hamas: “October 7th was a shocking day. A lot of people are trying to say it didn’t happen, like they denied the Holocaust” pic.twitter.com/g8ODR58mVL

— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) February 5, 2025

According to the information provided in the AP report, Trump insisted that resettlement was the only viable solution, dismissing the possibility of a return for Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians. “We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump declared. He further elaborated that the U.S. would oversee the leveling of destroyed buildings and launch a large-scale economic development project that would generate “unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.”

Trump’s comments signal his strongest endorsement yet for the controversial mass relocation of Gazans. As the AP report detailed, the proposal has been met with widespread opposition from key U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Egypt and Jordan, who have warned that such a move would threaten regional stability and derail the longstanding push for a two-state solution. Despite this resistance, Trump remained firm in his stance, stating that he did not believe people should return to Gaza. “You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location. I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy,” he said.

: Trump standing next to Netanyahu: “I also believe that the Gaza Strip, which has been a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades … it should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people.”

The issue of Palestinian displacement has become even more contentious given the fragile state of the ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The AP report indicated that while the initial truce agreement, which began last month, facilitated hostage releases and a temporary halt in hostilities, efforts to move into a more durable second phase remain uncertain. Trump’s comments introducing the idea of U.S. ownership of Gaza and long-term redevelopment have added another layer of complexity to these already delicate discussions.

President Donald Trump held a press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing Gaza, hostages and more.

Middle Eastern leaders have strongly pushed back against Trump’s resettlement plans. The AP report noted that both Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II publicly rejected the idea of permanently moving Gazans out of their homeland. These leaders have long argued that a forced mass displacement of Palestinians would intensify regional tensions, potentially sparking further unrest. Nonetheless, Trump, standing beside Netanyahu at the White House, expressed confidence that these nations, along with others he did not name, would ultimately agree to accept Palestinian refugees.

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri swiftly condemned Trump’s remarks, labeling them as an outright call for “expulsion from their land,” Reuters reported. “We consider them a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass,” Zuhri declared

Trump pushes for permanent immigration of Gaza Arabs: “Hope they will be fine and
they won’t want to return at all”

Despite the international backlash, Trump insists that Palestinians “have no alternative” but to leave what he called the “big pile of rubble” that is Gaza. The AP report highlighted that his senior aides have similarly expressed skepticism over current reconstruction timelines, arguing that the three-to-five-year estimate outlined in the temporary truce agreement is not viable. Instead, they foresee a much longer and more complex rebuilding process, further reinforcing the administration’s push for relocation.

Trump’s proposal represents an unprecedented shift in U.S. involvement in Gaza. The AP reported that while previous administrations have supported reconstruction efforts through international coalitions, the notion of direct U.S. ownership and control over Gaza’s redevelopment—coupled with potential military deployment—marks a radical departure from traditional policy.

President Trump Holds a Press Conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel

As the AP reported, Trump justified his proposal by emphasizing the suffering of Gazans over the years. “You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza,” Trump said. “This has been happening for years. It’s all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”

Trump’s remarks come as the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains in jeopardy, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing competing domestic pressures. According to the AP, Netanyahu is torn between demands from his coalition to resume military operations against Hamas and growing frustration from war-weary Israelis who want a final hostage deal and an end to the 15-month-long war. The delicate balance of these pressures makes any long-term solution for Gaza all the more complex.

A key player in the talks is Qatar, which has been instrumental in brokering the ceasefire deal. As NPR reported, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani in Florida on Thursday to discuss the next steps in the negotiations. While progress continues, uncertainties remain, particularly regarding Phase 3 of the ceasefire agreement, which involves the long-term reconstruction of Gaza. Witkoff cautioned that rebuilding the enclave within five years is “physically impossible” due to the immense destruction caused by the war. Instead, he suggested a more realistic timeline of 10 to 15 years, highlighting the logistical and financial challenges ahead.

Trump’s resettlement proposal has been met with broad rejection across the Arab world. As the AP reported, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League have joined Egypt and Jordan in firmly opposing any efforts to relocate Palestinians from Gaza. Despite this pushback, Trump appeared confident that he can sway Egypt and Jordan to reconsider, given the billions of dollars in aid the U.S. provides to both nations annually. While most of the international community has condemned the proposed displacement, members of Netanyahu’s coalition have openly supported Trump’s vision of moving Palestinians out of Gaza permanently.

The Trump administration argues that any alternative—such as returning displaced Gazans in the near future—is unrealistic. The AP reported that Witkoff dismissed suggestions that Palestinians could be reintegrated into Gaza within five years. “To me, it is unfair to explain to Palestinians that they might be back in five years,” Witkoff told reporters. “That’s just preposterous.”

Netanyahu had previously stated that his discussions with Trump would focus on “victory over Hamas,” countering Iran’s influence, and strengthening diplomatic ties with Arab nations. CBS News reported that while Netanyahu has consistently framed the Gaza conflict in military terms, Trump has also taken a strategic interest in regional diplomacy. Yet, despite his optimism about negotiations, Trump acknowledged on Monday that he has “no guarantees that the peace is going to hold.”

The prioritization of the U.S.-Israel relationship was further reinforced by National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, who stated in an interview with Fox News that Trump “is going to continue his support for our great ally, Israel.” The CBS News report emphasized that the White House remains committed to addressing the issue of American hostages still held by Hamas, with Waltz stressing that more work remains in securing their safe return.

The Reuters report also detailed how the White House meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was not solely focused on Gaza but also touched on other key geopolitical issues, including strategies to counter Iran and the potential for an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal.

One of Trump’s key regional goals is securing a historic normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. This objective, along with maintaining the fragile Gaza ceasefire, was expected to be a central focus of his meeting with Netanyahu. However, the Israeli leader faces intense political pressure from hardliners in his government, who have threatened to bring down his coalition if he does not resume military operations to fulfill his pledge to eliminate Hamas. Should fighting escalate once again, it could seriously undermine Trump’s efforts to persuade Saudi Arabia to enter into a normalization deal with Israel—placing Netanyahu in the difficult position of balancing domestic political survival with broader diplomatic opportunities.

“If Trump succeeds in this plan to resettle Palestinians in Gaza and to reconstruct the strip, this will be a good start in stopping Hamas’ ceaseless, ruthless aggression against civilians in Israel. The fact that the US is willing to become directly involved in protecting Israel should give us all hope for last peace in this war torn region,” said Dr. Phyllis Chesler, a Middle East analyst and prolific writer on all topics pertaining to Israel.

In related news, President Trump signed two significant executive orders on Tuesday, reimposing “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran and formally withdrawing the United States from several United Nations institutions accused of systemic anti-Israel bias.  According to a report on the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) website, these moves mark a continuation of Trump’s firm stance on Iran and a renewed effort to reform international organizations that he argues have long targeted Israel unfairly.

One of the executive orders reinstates stringent sanctions against Iran, reflecting Trump’s continued skepticism about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence. However, the JNS report noted that Trump appeared conflicted about signing the order, a shift from his first term when he was advised by hardline Iran hawks like John Bolton and Brian Hook. “It’s very tough on Iran,” Trump acknowledged, adding, “Hopefully, we are not going to have to use it very much.” He further admitted, “I’m unhappy to do it.” These remarks suggest that while Trump remains committed to exerting economic and diplomatic pressure on Iran, he is wary of escalating tensions unnecessarily.

Trump’s second executive order addresses what he and many critics view as an entrenched anti-Israel bias within the United Nations. The JNS report highlighted that this order withdraws the United States from the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC), which has long faced criticism for its singular focus on Israel. The council’s infamous “Agenda Item 7” mandates a review of alleged Israeli human rights violations at every session, making Israel the only country subjected to such scrutiny. By formally exiting the council once again, Trump is signaling his administration’s refusal to legitimize what he considers a fundamentally biased institution.

Beyond the UNHRC, Trump’s order also withdraws the U.S. from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and cuts funding to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). JNS reported that Washington has had a fraught relationship with UNESCO since it admitted the Palestinian Authority as a full member in 2011, triggering a legal prohibition on U.S. funding. Trump previously withdrew from UNESCO entirely in 2019, citing anti-Israel bias, only for the Biden administration to rejoin in 2023 under a congressional waiver related to countering Chinese influence. The latest withdrawal marks another reversal and underscores Trump’s ongoing skepticism toward multilateral organizations that he believes undermine Israel’s legitimacy.

UNESCO has been particularly controversial due to its handling of historical and religious sites in Israel. The JNS report pointed to a 2016 UNESCO resolution that referred to the Temple Mount and the Western Wall Plaza primarily by their Islamic names—“Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif” and “al-Buraq Plaza ‘Western Wall Plaza,’” respectively—sparking outrage in Israel and among Jewish communities worldwide. Trump’s decision to sever ties with UNESCO again reflects his broader effort to challenge narratives that he sees as rewriting Jewish history.

Perhaps the most immediate impact of Trump’s order will be felt by UNRWA, the primary agency responsible for Palestinian refugee assistance. JNS reported that Congress had already imposed a funding ban on UNRWA in March after Israeli intelligence revealed that approximately 30 UNRWA employees had direct involvement in Hamas’s October 7 attacks in southern Israel. Additionally, nearly 1,500 of the agency’s 13,000 staff members in Gaza are alleged to have ties to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. By formalizing the U.S. exit from UNRWA, Trump is further solidifying his administration’s stance that international aid should not indirectly benefit terrorist organizations operating against Israel.

Despite his decisive actions, Trump expressed hope that these measures might push the U.N. toward broader reforms. JNS quoted him as saying, “I’ve always felt that the U.N. has tremendous potential. But it’s not being well run, to be honest.” He added, “They gotta get their act together,” indicating that while the U.S. is distancing itself from certain agencies, the door remains open for potential cooperation if structural reforms are enacted.

As JNS outlined, Trump’s latest executive orders reaffirm his administration’s commitment to countering Iran, strengthening Israel’s position on the world stage, and challenging international organizations that he perceives as biased. Whether these moves will lead to significant shifts in global diplomacy remains to be seen, but they undoubtedly signal a return to the Trump administration’s “America First” approach to foreign policy.