Palestinian militant group Hamas strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s surprising proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and resettle Palestinians elsewhere, seemingly against their will.
Trump made the announcement during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
The proposal, which lacked specifics on how over two million Palestinians would be relocated or how Gaza would be controlled, suggested that the U.S. would “take over” the Gaza Strip, remove unexploded bombs and rubble, and rebuild it economically.
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Trump emphasized that the area could be transformed into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
Hamas rejected the idea, calling it “racist” and accusing the U.S. of aligning with Israel’s far-right agenda to displace Palestinians and erase their cause.
Trump’s proposal was also met with strong opposition from Palestinian officials, including Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian envoy to the U.N., who reaffirmed that Gaza is their homeland.
In contrast, Netanyahu praised the proposal, suggesting it could “change history” and emphasized the importance of considering such ideas.
However, the plan is expected to face significant resistance from Palestinians, regional governments, and the broader Middle Eastern community.
Egypt, Jordan, and Qatar have already rejected the idea of moving Palestinians out of Gaza.