The American president said that other countries in the Middle East may be responsible for rebuilding parts of the enclave ravaged by the war.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reiterated his controversial proposal to take control of Gaza, saying that he is determined to “buy and own” the enclave ravaged by the war.
Addressing journalists on the Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said that Gaza should be considered a “large real estate site” and that other countries in the Middle East may be responsible for managing its redevelopment.
“As far as we rebuild it, we can give it to other States of the Middle East to build sections; Other people can do it, through our auspices, “Trump said while going to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl.
“But we are committed to owning it, taking it and ensuring that Hamas does not back down. There is nothing to come back. The place is a demolition site. »»
Trump also said that the displaced Palestinians would prefer not to return to Gaza despite his proposal causing the counterpou of Palestinian representatives and a large part of the international community.
“If we could give them a house in a safer area – the only reason they talk about returning to Gaza is that they do not have an alternative. When they have an alternative, they don’t want to return to Gaza, “said the American president.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, reiterated its opposition to Trump’s proposal on Sunday, qualifying its latest “absurd” remarks.
“Gaza is not a property that can be purchased and sold, and it is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian lands,” said Izzat Al Risheq, member of the Hamas political bureau, in a shared press release on Telegram.
“Facing the Palestinian question with the mentality of a real estate dealer is a recipe for failure,” added Al Risheq.
“Our Palestinian people will thwart all the plans of movement and expulsion. Gaza belongs to her people. »»
Earlier Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s proposal as a “revolutionary” and “creative” while going to a meeting of the cabinet held hours after his return from Washington, DC, where he had talks with the American president.
Trump amazed the Palestinians and the international community on Tuesday by proposing that Washington takes control of Gaza as part of a daring redevelopment plan which, according to him, could transform the enclave into “the riviera of the Middle East”.
The American president doubled his suggestion the next day, after managers of his administration tried to alleviate the return to the proposal by insisting that any resettlement of the Palestinians would be temporary.
Trump, a property developer before entering politics, has provided few details on how he would implement his proposal, which would face huge practical obstacles in addition to raising legal and ethical concerns.
After initially saying that it was open to the possibility of sending the US military to Gaza, Trump later said that no American soldier would be necessary to carry out the plan.
Neighboring states such as Egypt and Jordan have refused calls to welcome displaced Palestinians despite Trump’s suggestion that they could be reinstalled in “other countries of interest with the humanitarian heart”.
Sunday, Saudi Arabia condemned a suggestion from Netanyahu that the land of the kingdom was used to establish a Palestinian state.
“The kingdom affirms that the Palestinian people have the right to their land, and it is not intruders or immigrants who can be expelled whenever the brutal Israeli occupation wishes,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, Accusing the Israeli chief of trying to “divert attention” of the “crimes” in the course of Israel in Gaza.