US President Donald Trump has proposed that the United States “take over” and “own” Gaza, arguing that the region should be completely rebuilt and transformed into an economic hub.
At a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested that Palestinians in Gaza should be permanently resettled in neighbouring Arab countries while the US leads reconstruction efforts.
His remarks have apparently stunned observers in the US and internationally. Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site” that should be cleared and redeveloped, adding that he sees a “long-term ownership position” for the US in the region.
He also did not rule out deploying American troops “if necessary” to enforce this vision.
Global condemnation and sharp reactions
Trump’s proposal has drawn a strong backlash from political leaders, human rights groups, and advocacy organizations worldwide, who have denounced it as a violation of international law and an attempt at ethnic cleansing.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
: “Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year. The Australian government supports on a bipartisan basis a two-state solution.”
Saudi Arabia:
Saudi’s foreign ministry rejected “any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people whether through Israeli settlement policies, land annexation or attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land.”
Democratic US Senator Chris Murphy
: “He’s totally lost it. A US invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of US troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It’s like a bad, sick joke.”
Democratic representative Jake Auchincloss
: Called the proposal “reckless and unreasonable,” warning that it could “scuttle Phase 2 of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.” He also added: “We have to look at Trump’s motives. As always, when Trump proposes a policy item, there is a nepotistic, self-serving connection.” Referring to Trump and Jared Kushner, he said: “They want to turn this into resorts.”
Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen
: “Trump’s proposal to push 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza and take ‘ownership’ by force, if necessary, is simply ethnic cleansing by another name. This declaration will give ammunition to Iran and other adversaries while undermining our Arab partners in the region. It defies decades of bipartisan American support for a two-state solution. … Congress must stand up to this dangerous and reckless scheme.”
Council on Amerian-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
: “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States, and President Trump’s call to expel Palestinians from their land is an absolute non-starter.” The group further warned: “If the Palestinian people were ever somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity would spark widespread conflict, put the final nail in the coffin of international law, and destroy what remains of our nation’s international image and standing.”
Arab American Institute
: “If the president was truly interested in bringing an era of peace to the Middle East, he would support self-determination for the Palestinian people on their historic land and in accordance with international law – not talk of illegal forced transfer.”
Paul O’Brien, executive director, Amnesty International USA
: “Removing all Palestinians from Gaza is tantamount to destroying them as a people. Gaza is their home. Gaza’s death and destruction is a result of the government of Israel killing civilians by the thousands, often with US bombs.”
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri
: “The call for Gazans to leave is expulsion from their land. We consider them (the plans) a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass.”
Jon Alterman, middle east programme head, Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies
: “Many Gazans descended from Palestinians who fled parts of present-day Israel and have never been able to return to their previous homes. I’m sceptical many would be willing to leave even a shattered Gaza.”
Trump’s foreign policy proposal comes alongside his past suggestions of buying Greenland and asserting control over the Panama Canal.
But can the US execute Trump’s plan?
Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza faces major legal, political, and logistical obstacles. Under international law, the forcible transfer of a population is prohibited and could be classified as ethnic cleansing. The Geneva Conventions only allow forced evacuations under strict conditions, such as protecting civilians from active combat zones.
However, mass expulsion for permanent resettlement is illegal.
Arab leaders, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, have outright rejected the plan, warning that it could destabilize the region and expand the conflict. The logistics of relocating 2 million Palestinians, securing funding, and deploying thousands of US troops to enforce control make the plan highly impractical. Even Trump’s own administration has not provided a clear mechanism for executing such an operation.
Ultimately, experts argue that this is not a feasible or legally viable strategy and that its implementation would provoke severe international backlash and prolonged instability.
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