U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited controversy by proposing that the United States take control of war-torn Gaza and transform it into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling its Palestinian population elsewhere. The unprecedented suggestion, which upends decades of U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has drawn swift condemnation from key regional players, including Saudi Arabia.
Trump made the remarks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, presenting his vision without outlining concrete details. “The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of.” he declared, echoing the real estate magnate he once was.
The proposal comes alongside Trump’ s call for the permanent resettlement of over two million Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries. Describing the besieged enclave, where a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is in effect, as a “demolition site”, he suggested that mass displacement was a viable solution.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed Trump’s remarks as “ridiculous” and “absurd” warning that such ideas could destabilise the Middle East.
“Trump’s remarks about his desire to control Gaza are capable of igniting the region” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, firmly rejected any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry reiterated that the kingdom would not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, directly contradicting Trump’s claim that Riyadh had dropped its demand for Palestinian statehood. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has made the kingdom’s position “clear and explicit” leaving no room for alternative interpretations.
The issue of displacement remains deeply sensitive among Palestinians and the wider Arab world. Fears of another “Nakba” the catastrophe that saw hundreds of thousands of Palestinians dispossessed during Israel’s founding, have been reignited amid the ongoing conflict.
For both Trump and Israel, the stakes in Saudi policy towards the Middle East remain high. However, with Riyadh standing firm on Palestinian sovereignty, Trump’s audacious proposal appears unlikely to gain traction.
