Trump on Tuesday proposed a U.S. takeover of Gaza where Israel's military assault in the last 16 months has killed tens of thousands, after he earlier suggested that Palestinians in the enclave should be permanently displaced. The idea was condemned by experts and rights advocates.

General view of the rubble of houses and buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip January 29, 2025.

The president reiterates that the idea would mean resettling Palestinians, and that no US soldiers would be needed.

President Donald Trump’s first major step on Middle East policy when he first took power in 2017 was to repudiate the decades-old U.S. position that peace required the creation of a viable Palestinian state – to visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apparent delight.