President Donald Trump recently suggested that displaced Palestinians from Gaza be permanently resettled outside the region and proposed the United States take control of the area to redevelop it into a luxurious destination, likening it to the “Riviera of the Middle East.” His comments came during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, as talks intensify surrounding a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of hostages.
Trump’s proposal has stirred controversy, as it involves relocating roughly 1.8 million Palestinians from Gaza, a move that could escalate tensions in the region. Trump also mentioned that the U.S. could deploy troops to support the redevelopment of Gaza, but he did not clarify the legal authority behind such a move. The plan was met with strong opposition from U.S. allies in the Middle East, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, who warned that such a resettlement could destabilize the region and undermine the long-standing push for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Saudi Arabia reiterated its commitment to a Palestinian state, stressing that Palestinians will not leave their land.
Trump, however, maintains that Palestinians have no alternative but to leave Gaza, which he described as a “big pile of rubble.” He suggested that resettling Palestinians in other countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, would offer them better living conditions.
In parallel, the White House is working to broker the next phase of the ceasefire and ensure humanitarian aid reaches Gaza. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces internal pressure from his right-wing coalition to end the truce and resume military actions against Hamas, while continuing indirect talks mediated by Qatar.
The situation remains tense as the international community continues to seek a resolution to the conflict, with no clear path forward.
