President Donald Trump's proposal to have the United States 'take over' the Gaza Strip and resettle its residents has sparked strong reactions from Palestinians, their allies, and other nations. During a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump outlined a plan to build new settlements for Palestinians outside Gaza and for the U.S. to redevelop the territory into 'the Riviera of the Middle East.'
Trump's remarks were met with opposition from various quarters. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for UN protection of Palestinian rights, labeling Trump's proposal a violation of international law. In contrast, some Israelis, including reservist soldier Yaniv Cohen and far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, praised Trump's plan to evacuate Palestinians from Gaza and transform the region into a tourist destination.
French officials strongly denounced any forced displacement of Gaza's Palestinians, warning of potential destabilization in the Middle East. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad group condemned Trump's 'racist comments' and vowed to resist any attempts to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza.
Meanwhile, Egyptian and Palestinian officials called for rebuilding Gaza without displacing its residents. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan criticized Trump's comments as 'unacceptable,' emphasizing the need for a two-state solution with East Jerusalem as the capital of a sovereign Palestinian state.
China reiterated its opposition to forced relocations in Gaza, advocating for Palestinian rule in the region. U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson commended Trump's actions as a step towards achieving peace in Gaza, while Houthi leader Mohammed al-Bukhaiti criticized the plan as 'American arrogance.'
Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported Trump's proposal, emphasizing the goal of making Gaza 'beautiful' and achieving lasting peace in the region. However, the plan faced criticism from Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations advocating for Palestinian statehood in Gaza and the West Bank.
