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President Donald Trump sparked alarm after he said the U.S. will “take over” the Gaza Strip and “own” the territory during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He added that Palestinians could be resettled away from their homes in the war-torn enclave, in “areas where the leaders currently say no”. Both Jordan and Egypt have rejected the idea, while the Palestinian ambassador to the UN said “our homeland is our homeland”.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said: “Instead of having to go back and do it again, the U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”
“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East,” he added.
“I don’t want to be cute, I don’t want to be a wise guy,” the president said before suggesting that Gaza could be “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Gaza has suffered huge destruction after the 15-month conflict between Hamas and Israel, with more than 47,000 people killed.
This comes as Trump also said Tuesday that he is in “no rush” to speak with Chinese President Xi Jinping to resolve the new trade war between the world’s two largest economies, which was ignited by his sweeping 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports.
ANALYSIS: Tulsi Gabbard made a career out of ‘just asking questions.’ Now she will have to answer them
Tulsi Gabbard, the former Democratic congresswoman turned MAGA conspiracy theorist, is set to be confirmed as director of National Intelligence after overcoming a key hurdle on Tuesday.
If Gabbard is confirmed by a full Senate vote, as expected, she will oversee 18 U.S. intelligence agencies, acting as principal adviser to President Donald Trump on America’s secrets and national security.
Her appointment will mark the conclusion of a remarkable journey from a quixotic outsider who regularly found common cause with dictators and tyrants against her own country’s intelligence agencies to the ultimate insider.
If there is such thing as a Deep State, Gabbard will sit atop it.
Oliver O’Connell5 February 2025 07:35
‘Our homeland is our homeland’ says Palestinian UN ambassador
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, has responded to Trump’s plan for the US to take over Gaza.
“For those that want to send them to a happy, nice place let them go back to their original homes inside Israel,” Mansour responded, in a video posted on X by the Palestinian mission to the UN.
However, he adds that Palestinians wish to return to their homes in Gaza, adding: “Our homeland is our homeland… they want to rebuild Gaza, the schools, the hospitals, the infrastructure because this is where they belong and they love to live there. And I think that leaders should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people.”
Holly Evans5 February 2025 07:32
Trump faces criticism after suggesting US ‘take over’ Gaza in the long term
Donald Trump has been accused of suggesting an “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinian people as American allies around the world began to react to the US president’s shock comments about the possible “takeover” of the Palestinian enclave amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Mr Trump’s comments came in a meeting with Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu – the first in-person visit by a foreign leader since his return to office. Mr Trump said he wants the United States to “take over” and redevelop the Gaza Strip which is now a “demolition site” that no-one would want to live in.
“We’re going to take over that piece, we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs and it’ll be something the entire Middle East can be very proud of,” he said.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar5 February 2025 06:50
Trump set to attend Super Bowl between Chiefs and Eagles
Mike Bedigan has the story.
Oliver O’Connell5 February 2025 06:35
Zelensky calls for Tucker Carlson to ‘stop licking’ Putin’s ‘a**’
Oliver O’Connell5 February 2025 04:35
Trump draws ire from Democrats
As reactions continue to pour in on Donald Trump’s Gaza comments, Democratic senator Chris Murphy lashed out at the president, calling his suggestion a “bad, sick joke”.
“He’s totally lost it. A U.S. 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,” he said on X.
Democratic representative Jake Auchincloss called the proposal “reckless and unreasonable” in an interview with NewsNation and warned that it could jeopardise the second phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
“We have to look at Trump’s motives,” he said. “As always, when Trump proposes a policy item, there is a nepotistic, self-serving connection.”Referring to Mr Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner, he added, “They want to turn this into resorts.”
Shweta Sharma5 February 2025 04:07
Watch: Trump says he would be happy for Americans convicted of crimes to be imprisoned overseas
Oliver O’Connell5 February 2025 04:05
Palestinian American congresswoman accuses Trump of ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Palestinians
Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has condemned Donald Trump for his comments on “taking over” Gaza, accusing him of ethnic cleansing of the people.
“This president is openly calling for ethnic cleansing while sitting next to a genocidal war criminal,” she said on X.
“He’s perfectly fine cutting off working Americans from federal funds while the funding to the Israeli government continues flowing.”
Shweta Sharma5 February 2025 03:55
Anthony Albanese says Australia will continue to support two-state solution in Gaza
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has doubled down on his support of the two-state solution in Gaza following Donald Trump’s shock comments of a possible “takeover” and “levelling” of the Palestinian enclave amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Mr Albanese refused to comment on Mr Trump’s remarks on Tuesday in a meeting alongside Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he said he saw the United States taking “a long-term ownership position” that would bring “great stability to the Middle East” region.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Albanese said he doesn’t do “running commentary” when asked about the US president’s comments.
“[What] I would say is that Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, and it was 10 years ago, and it was under the Howard government,” Mr Albanese said.
He added that the government supports a two-state solution in Gaza which envisages Israeli and Palestinian states alongside each other.
“What we have said, though, clearly, we’ve supported a ceasefire. We’ve supported hostages being released. And we’ve supported aid getting into Gaza,” he said.
Shweta Sharma5 February 2025 03:50
