A part of Gaza devastated by Israel’s aggression. In a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu yesterday, US President Trump announced that the valley will be taken over by his country. Photo: AP
US President Donald Trump held a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is visiting the United States, at the White House on Tuesday. There, he announced some specific plans for the Palestinian Gaza Valley.
According to the announcement made at the press conference, Trump wants to take Gaza over as the United States’s property. At the same time, he wants to send Palestinians to neighboring countries permanently to develop the valley and establish a ‘world’s’ occupation there. The important aspects of his surprising plan are highlighted below—
The most important point of the announcement, Donald Trump said, is that the United States will ‘take control’ of Gaza and establish its ‘ownership’ over it. After all the Palestinians are moved elsewhere, he dreams of establishing his country’s ‘long-term’ ownership over this territory. However, he did not explain how and by what authority the United States could take control of Gaza.
We will take control of Gaza and take responsibility for destroying all dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons from there. The United States will “level” the destroyed buildings, carry out economic development there, provide unlimited jobs, and build homes for the world.
Donald Trump, US President
Trump said, “We will take over the Gaza Strip and take responsibility for destroying all dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons there.” He also said that the United States will “level” the destroyed buildings in the strip, “develop economic development, create unlimited jobs and build homes for the world.”
The US president called Gaza “a symbol of death and destruction.” He claimed that Gaza residents want to return there because they have nowhere else to go. Trump said that the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza should leave for neighboring countries with “human hearts” and “wealth.”
Earlier, Trump called on Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to accept the Palestinians. He said they could be divided into different locations.
Forcibly evicting Gazans would violate international law and would be strongly opposed not only by countries in the region but also by Washington’s Western allies. Some human rights groups have compared Trump’s plan to ethnic cleansing.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yesterday at the White House Photo: AFP
Trump said that Gaza could be developed into a “beach of the Middle East” where “people of the world” could live. Trump’s statement is consistent with the words of his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kushner said that the “oceanfront property” of Gaza is worth a lot.
Trump was asked whether he supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. He gave a vague answer to this question. Asked whether this statement indicated opposition to his two-state policy, which contradicts decades of US foreign policy, he said – “No”.
The US president described Gaza as a “symbol of death and destruction”. He claimed that Gaza residents want to return there because they have nowhere else to go. Trump said that the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza with “human hearts” and “wealth” should leave for neighboring countries.
In this context, President Trump said, “This is not about two states or one state or any other state. This is what we want (to control Gaza). We want to give people a chance to survive. The Gaza Strip was a hellhole, they never had a chance to survive there. It was a place of terror.”
Trump claimed that there was widespread support for what he said among unidentified leaders. In his words, “This decision was not taken lightly.” He further claimed, “Everyone likes my talk about the idea of establishing American ownership of this territory.” According to Trump, “It would bring great stability to this part of the Middle East.”
President Trump did not rule out the possibility of sending US troops to establish security in Gaza. He said, “What needs to be done in Gaza is what we have to do. If it (sending troops) is necessary, we will do it.’
Supporting Trump’s idea on Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “The President (Trump) sees a different future for Gaza. I think this is something that could change history.”
The President (Trump) sees a different future for Gaza. I think this is something that could change history.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister
Speech on West Bank next month
President Trump said he may make a statement next month on his position on Israel’s sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. “We haven’t taken a position on that yet,” he said. Trump also announced plans to visit the Gaza Strip, Israel and Saudi Arabia at the press conference.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu praised Trump highly at the press conference. He called Trump Israel’s best friend among US presidents who have ever served in the White House.
The Israeli prime minister said, “We have to finish the job in Gaza. Israel will end this war by winning.” He praised Trump for thinking outside the box.
Saudi Arabia rejects attempts to displace Palestinians
Saudi Arabia strongly rejects any attempt to displace Palestinians from their land, saying in a statement that it will not establish relations with Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian independence movement Hamas has condemned Trump’s call to remove Palestinians from Gaza as “expulsion from their land.” And the Palestinian envoy to the United Nations said that world leaders and ordinary people should respect the desire of Palestinians to live in Gaza.
