Trump says Israel would ‘turn over’ Gaza to the US after expulsion of Palestinians

U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed on Thursday his plan for Washington to take control of Gaza, offering new clues about what he plans to do (and above all how he intends to do it). In a message posted on Truth Social, his social media platform, Trump stated that the U.S. would enter Gaza “at the conclusion of fighting” and Israel has completed the relocation of Palestinians living in the area (more than 2.2 million people) to other countries. His goal would be to rebuild Gaza, transforming it into “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments” in the world.

Trump shocked the world on Tuesday when, during a surprise press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — following a bilateral meeting — he proposed that the United States take control of the Gaza Strip. He said that Palestinians would be relocated to countries like Egypt and Jordan, and — as he repeatedly emphasized during the half-hour of statements — this forced relocation would be permanent.

The announcement, which was welcomed with enthusiasm by the Israeli government, quickly drew condemnation from the international community, which pointed out that the forced relocation of populations is strictly prohibited under international law. Arab nations have vehemently rejected the proposal, which undermines decades of U.S. foreign policy. If carried out, it could destabilize Egypt and Jordan, with the potential for broader regional unrest throughout the Middle East.

In response to the widespread criticism and growing concerns even within his own party, the White House moved to soften the plan’s most controversial aspects on Wednesday. Presidential spokesperson Karoline Leavitt clarified during a press conference that the transfer of Palestinians would be temporary. She also noted that, although the president had said he would not rule out sending troops “if it’s necessary,” Trump “has not committed” to using U.S. forces to execute the plan.

In his message on Thursday, the U.S. president shifted the language he used earlier in the week, moving away from definitive future statements (“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip”) to more conditional phrasing, suggesting that the plan is not yet finalized. He stated: “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” referring to the war that erupted in October 2023 and is currently paused due to a ceasefire.

He argued that by that time, “the Palestinians [...] would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free.” While he did not explicitly clarify whether the resettlement would be permanent, he also did not specify that it would be temporary.

According to the businessman-turned-president’s plan, the United States would assume the role of a real estate developer. In his message on Truth, the Republican stated: “Working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth.” This description carries an ironic undertone, as his administration is currently in the process of dismantling the U.S. development aid agency, USAID.

“No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!” he proclaimed in his message, ruling out the use of U.S. military forces to enforce his plan in Gaza.

Trump had been considering his plan for months, according to the White House. The final idea took shape after his personal friend and Middle East envoy for ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, returned from Gaza deeply shocked by the extent of the destruction he had seen.

Gaza, “is a demolition site,” the U.S. president remarked on Tuesday. He argued that it would take at least 10 to 15 years to rebuild, claiming that the area is now uninhabitable and that its inhabitants must relocate to neighboring countries. On Tuesday, he insisted that there would be no return, as it would otherwise “it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years,” a continuous cycle of war and death.

For its part, Israel has begun preparing a relocation plan, which it insists would be “voluntary” for Gaza’s residents. However, to Palestinian ears, this evokes memories of the Nakba, the 1947-1949 ethnic cleansing operation that led to the expulsion of around 750,000 Palestinians from their land in the face of advancing Jewish militias and, later, the newly-formed Israeli army.

Israel has consistently denied the right of return for these Palestinians and their descendants, who are now scattered around the world. This right, along with the demand for Jerusalem as the capital, has remained one of the insurmountable obstacles that have doomed negotiations time and again since the Madrid Conference in 1991. Any efforts to facilitate meaningful dialogue between Arabs and Israelis aimed at establishing the two-state solution envisioned in U.N. resolutions — and, at least until now, the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East — have repeatedly faltered.

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