US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has effectively endorsed the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in a shock announcement where he said the US would “take over” Gaza and “own it”.
Trump told a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Gaza could become the “Riviera of the Middle East” while refusing to rule out sending US troops to occupy the territory.
The American President told journalists on Tuesday evening that “the only reason the Palestinians want to go back to Gaza is they have no alternative”.
He added: “It’s right now a demolition site. This is just a demolition site. Virtually every building is down.”
Trump continued by claiming Palestinians could live in “peace and harmony” elsewhere as he called for the permanent resettlement of the two million Palestinians who live in Gaza to neighbouring countries.
He has previously called for Jordan, Egypt and other Arab states to take in Palestinians from Gaza, which leaders from the neighbouring countries have already rejected.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site,” Trump said.
“If it’s necessary, we’ll do that, we’re going to take over that piece, we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”
Trump said he would support resettling Palestinians “permanently” but did not go into further details on how a resettlement process could be implemented.
When the US President was asked if the plan might involve US military force he said: “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary."
He added: “If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”
Trump refused to answer questions from journalists on how and under what authority the US can occupy Gaza.
“I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East,” Trump said.
He added that regional leaders supported his idea as he said: “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.”
He added: “I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months.”
Trump then went on to say that Gaza is a “hellhole” and “symbol of death and destruction”.
When pressed on who would live in a redeveloped Gaza, Trump said it could become a home to “the world’s people”.
He added: “I don’t want to be cute, I don’t want to be a wise guy – but the Riviera of the Middle East … This could be something that could be so valuable, this could be so magnificent.”
Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza conflict, praised Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House”.
He said “it’s worth paying attention to this” idea and added that it’s “something that could change history”.
