- President Donald Trump is pushing forward with his plan for the United States to ultimately take control of the Gaza Strip. He says his plan will not include any involvement of American troops.
- Egypt is now saying any relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza region would jeopardize its peace treaty with Israel.
- Hamas says U.S. involvement would be considered an occupation.
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President Donald Trump, on Thursday, Feb. 6, continued to push forward with his proposal that the United States would take control of the Gaza Strip once the Israeli war with Hamas is over. He made the remarks on his Truth Social platform.
“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” Trump said on Truth Social. “The Palestinians … would have already resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new modern homes in the region.”
The U.S. would work with other countries on rebuilding Gaza, according to Trump. He also said he wouldn’t send American soldiers to the area.
President Trump has stated that the region is in such bad shape, due to the war that began in October 2023, that it is unlivable. Much of the Arab world has criticized Trump’s plan for a U.S. takeover of Gaza.
What is Israel’s position on Palestinian relocation?
In another development, Israel says it has begun preparations for the departure of Palestinians from Gaza. However, Egypt warned that the expulsion of Palestinians would destabilize the region and undermine its peace treaty with Israel.
Human Rights Watch has added that a forcible relocation would amount to “ethnic cleansing.”
Other reaction to the Palestinian situation in the Middle East
American ally, Saudi Arabia, has also rejected any mass influx of Palestinians. The country said it would not normalize relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state. It said that would include the 25-mile Gaza Strip.
Hamas now says that any American takeover of Gaza would be considered an occupation. One leader of the terror group warned it could ignite the region.
