Statements made by Donald Trump, the President of the United States, regarding the takeover of the Gaza Strip and the resettlement of Palestinians in neighboring countries have sparked a wave of international backlash. In a press conference, Trump announced that the U.S. will occupy the Gaza Strip and take responsibility for its reconstruction.
At the same time, Steven Witkoff, Trump’s Special Envoy for Middle Eastern Affairs, stated that the region will likely be uninhabitable for 10 to 15 years. These remarks have drawn severe criticism from Hamas, Palestinian authorities, and regional countries. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, labeled the proposal as an attempt to expel people from their land.
Meanwhile, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, emphasized that Gaza is part of Palestine, and Palestinians will never leave their homeland. On the global stage, Australia and Saudi Arabia stressed their support for a diplomatic solution, with Riyadh firmly rejecting any forced displacement of Palestinians.
In the United States, the plan has faced support from some Republicans and opposition from Democrats. Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, defended the idea, while Chris Murphy, a Democratic Senator, warned that a U.S. attack on Gaza will lead to a prolonged and bloody war.
This marks the second controversial statement by Donald Trump advocating for the seizure of a foreign region. Previously, Trump declared his intention to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “American Gulf” and expressed his desire for the gulf to be under U.S. sovereignty.
