Trump Claims Israel Will Transfer Gaza to the US After Conflict Resolves

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his vision of the US taking control of the Gaza Strip once the ongoing conflict concludes, following earlier remarks from his administration that appeared to contradict his initial statements.

On Thursday, Trump clarified that, under his plan, Israel would hand over the Gaza Strip to the United States after the fighting ends. He emphasized that the resettlement of Palestinians would take place, but no US soldiers would be required. Trump’s idea of resettling the population has sparked accusations of ethnic cleansing and has been widely condemned by the UN, human rights groups, and Arab leaders, with analysts expressing skepticism about its feasibility.

Following his initial comments, officials from the Trump administration suggested that any relocation of Gaza’s population would be temporary. However, Trump’s proposal, posted on Truth Social, suggested that Gazans would be resettled in safer, modern communities in the region. He mentioned that the US would help redevelop Gaza, though he did not clarify if the two million Palestinian residents would be invited to return.

International law prohibits the forcible transfer of populations from occupied territories. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt later stated that any displacement would only be temporary. Similarly, Secretary of State Rubio referred to the idea as an interim period for Gazans to leave while debris is cleared and reconstruction takes place.

Trump’s initial comments on Tuesday, where he proposed transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East,” suggested a permanent displacement of Palestinians. The US would take over Gaza and undertake its redevelopment, he claimed. The suggestion of a permanent transfer took even senior Trump aides by surprise due to the lack of planning behind the idea, as reported by the New York Times.

Trump’s statement on Thursday, clarifying that no American soldiers would be involved, aligned with Leavitt’s comments, indicating that the US had no plans to deploy troops to the region. Later, during a prayer breakfast, Trump briefly addressed the situation in Gaza but did not elaborate on his earlier statements regarding the US “taking over” the territory. He did, however, express his hope that his legacy would be that of a peacemaker and unifier.

The Gaza Strip, heavily damaged by 15 months of conflict, remains largely uninhabitable, with entire districts destroyed and agricultural land in ruins. The UN Environment Programme has warned that it could take up to 21 years to clear all the debris, with significant damage to water, sanitation systems, and the environment. Over 50 million tonnes of debris have accumulated, according to the UNEP.

The conflict escalated after an unprecedented cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023, which led to significant loss of life, including 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages. Since then, more than 47,550 people have died and over 111,600 have been injured in Gaza, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.