By Zek Miller, Tia Goldenberg, and Aamer Madhani, Associated Press
WASHINGTON—After the Palestinians are relocated abroad, President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he wants the United States to retake and redevelop the Gaza Strip.
At the beginning of a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump declared, “We will own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”
Trump went on to say that the United States will demolish damaged structures and establish an economic growth that would provide an infinite amount of employment and dwellings for the local population.
Trump’s remarks followed his earlier proposal to relocate Gaza’s displaced Palestinians outside of the war-torn region on a permanent basis.
THIS NEWS UPDATE IS BREAKING. Below is AP’s earlier story.
Washington (AP)On Tuesday, President Donald Trump proposed the permanent relocation of Palestinians who had been displaced from Gaza outside of the war-torn region.
Trump’s aggressive remarks came at the beginning of his White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the two leaders also talked about the precarious ceasefire and hostage agreement in the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
Trump stated, “I don’t think people should be going back.” You cannot currently reside in Gaza. I believe we need a different place. It ought to be a place that brings people joy, in my opinion.
Amid mounting doubts that the temporary truce and hostage deal reached last month between Israel and Hamas can progress to an even more precarious second stage, the president made his strongest case to date for a wholesale evacuation of Gaza.
Trump has been warned by Egypt, Jordan, and other U.S. friends in the Middle East that transferring Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians would jeopardize regional security, run the risk of escalating the conflict, and jeopardize the United States’ and its allies’ decades-long push for a two-state solution.
Nevertheless, Trump maintains that the Palestinians have no choice except to evacuate Gaza, which is a massive pile of debris. He spoke out as his senior advisors emphasized that the temporary peace agreement’s three to five-year restoration schedule for the war-torn region is unrealistic.
Trump’s calls to repatriate Gazans were rejected last week by Jordanian King Abdullah II and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissian.
Nevertheless, Trump, accompanied by Netanyahu, stated that he thinks Egypt, Jordan, and other nations he did not specify will eventually consent to host Palestinians.
Trump stated, “If you look at Gaza over the decades, it’s all death.” For years, this has been taking place. Everything is death. If we can find a lovely place to relocate people, permanently, in comfortable homes where they can live happily and not be shot, killed, or stabbed to death like is happening in Gaza, then that would be great.
As the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas looms, the White House is focusing on what will happen to Gaza’s more than 2 million inhabitants.
Both war-weary Israelis who want the remaining prisoners returned and the 15-month conflict to end, as well as Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, are putting pressure on him to break the temporary truce against Hamas militants in Gaza.
Joining Egypt and Jordan in opposing plans to expel Palestinians from their territories in Gaza and the occupied West Bank were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, the Palestinian Authority, and the Arab League.
However, given the substantial funding that the United States gives Cairo and Amman, Trump might be placing a wager that he can convince Egypt and Jordan to agree to take in displaced Palestinians. The request to evacuate displaced Palestinians from Gaza has been welcomed by hard-line right-wing members of Netanyahu’s administration.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Mideast envoy, told reporters, “I think it’s unfair to tell Palestinians that they might be back in five years.” That is simply absurd.
As part of a larger two-state solution to the protracted Israel-Palestinian issue, Trump also hinted that he might be reevaluating the idea of an independent Palestinian state. When asked by reporters if he was still dedicated to a plan similar to the one he outlined in 2020 that called for a Palestinian state, he responded, “Well, a lot of plans change with time.”
Trump said that many deaths have happened since he departed and returned. We are currently dealing with a scenario that is different, both better and worse in some respects. However, the circumstance we are in is extremely complicated and challenging, which we will resolve.
The prime minister’s popularity is declining as Netanyahu arrives in Washington for the first foreign leader visit of Trump’s second term.
The prime minister is currently testifying for weeks in a corruption trial that revolves around claims that he traded favors with affluent associates and media tycoons. He claims he is the target of a witch hunt and has denounced the charges.
Being spotted with Trump, who is well-liked in Israel, would help divert attention from the trial and improve Netanyahu’s reputation.
Regarding Netanyahu, Trump remarked, “We have the right leader of Israel who has done a great job.”
Trump’s leadership in securing the truce and hostage agreement was also commended by Netanyahu. Regarding Trump and his government, Netanyahu remarked, “I’ll just tell you, I’m glad they’re here.”
Since the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu, his former defense minister, and the military chief of Hamas in November, accusing them of crimes against humanity during the war in Gaza, this is Netanyahu’s first trip outside of Israel. The ICC’s jurisdiction over American persons and territory is not acknowledged by the United States.
Netanyahu began the difficult task of mediating the next stage of a ceasefire deal on Monday when he met with White House national security adviser Mike Waltz and Witkoff.
For the first time, the Israeli leader confirmed that he will send a delegation to Qatar to resume indirect discussions with Hamas that are being mediated by the Gulf Arab nation. When Netanyahu returns to Israel at the end of the week, he will meet with his security cabinet to discuss Israel’s expectations for the next phase of the truce.
In the meantime, Witkoff said that he will meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the prime minister of Qatar, in Florida on Thursday to talk about the ceasefire’s next stage. Throughout the war, Qatar and Egypt have been crucial go-betweens with Hamas.
Hard-right members of Netanyahu’s ruling coalition are putting tremendous pressure on him to break the ceasefire and return to the conflict in Gaza in order to destroy Hamas. One of Netanyahu’s main allies, Bezalel Smotrich, has threatened to overthrow the government if the war isn’t resumed, which could result in early elections.
Since the ceasefire started last month, Hamas has reclaimed control of Gaza. It has stated that it will not release detainees in the second phase until the war is ended and Israeli soldiers have completely withdrawn. Netanyahu, on the other hand, insists that Israel is dedicated to defeating Hamas and releasing all captives taken after the strike that started the conflict on October 7, 2023.
Trump was urged by Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is one of the captives, to use American influence to maintain Netanyahu’s commitment to the deal.
The second part of the agreement, which calls for exchanging all surviving hostages—including men under 50 and male soldiers—for an unspecified number of Palestinian inmates, is anticipated to include Matan, 24. The complete evacuation of Israeli forces from Gaza is also anticipated to occur during the second phase.
Zangauker, who went from Israel to Washington to attend a planned rally outside the White House on Tuesday, stated, “I want President Trump to know that there are certain extreme elements from within Israel who are trying to torpedo his vision.” We speak for the great, great majority of Israelis. The prime minister is being blackmailed by the ultra-extremists to comply with their demands.
During the visit, the prime minister is also anticipated to exert pressure on Trump to act decisively on Iran. Tehran has experienced a number of military losses, including an operation that severely damaged Iran’s air defenses and Israeli forces severely weakening Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon. Netanyahu thinks that the time has come to take significant action against Tehran’s nuclear program.
Trump signed an executive order that he claimed would put further economic pressure on Iran before his meeting with Netanyahu.
Trump declared, “We will not permit them to possess a nuclear weapon.”
Goldenberg covered the story from Israel’s Tel Aviv. Melanie Lidman, a journalist for the Associated Press in Jerusalem, provided reporting.
Go to https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war to follow the AP’s coverage of the conflict.
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