On Friday, February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump told reporters that Gaza “will be given to us by Israel.” He later added that his plan to take “long-term ownership” of the region has “been very well received.”
“It would be supplied and given to us by Israel. They’ll watch it terms of security,” he told reporters during a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
“We’re not talking about boots on the ground or anything, but I think the fact that we’re there, that we have an investment there, I think would go a long way to creating peace,” he added.
Trump’s comments on Friday reflect comments he made while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United States earlier this week.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job —whether we’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out,” Trump said.
“Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area, do a real job, do something different,” he added.
Netanyahu promptly backed Trump’s proposal, saying it’s a “remarkable idea.”
“This is the first good idea that I’ve heard. It’s a remarkable idea and I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued, and done because I think it will create a different future for everyone,” Netanyahu said.
However, many members of Congress, including Republicans, were less enthusiastic about the idea of becoming more involved in the region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also explained that the United States is “a very long way” from intervening in the area.
“The pursuit for peace should be that of the Israelis and the Palestinians. I thought we voted for America First. We have no business contemplating yet another occupation to doom our treasure and spill our soldiers blood,” Senator Rand Paul commented.
“Palestinians aren’t going anywhere,” Rep, Rashida Tlaib wrote. “This president can only spew this fanatical bullshit because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing. It’s time for my two-state solution colleagues to speak up.”
