By Kiava News LLC.
February 5, 2025
At a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu President Donald J. Trump announced his plan for the United States to assume control of the Gaza Strip which he claims will transform the war-torn area into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.”
Trump’s statement proposed a complete break from existing U.S. foreign policy approaches that have been maintained for decades in the region. Previous administrations have worked to develop peace agreements and deliver humanitarian aid but the president plans to establish direct U.S. administration in Gaza with possible American military deployment.
Trump declared at the White House that the U.S. will assume control over the Gaza Strip to rebuild and restore it. People are going to love it.”
When reporters asked him about the possibility of American ground troops Trump avoided giving a definitive answer.
Experts and diplomats expressed broad skepticism about the proposal because they questioned its legality along with its feasibility and geopolitical consequences.
A Plan Without Precedent
Senior White House officials confirmed that the idea bypassed the usual policy review process because the president developed it based on his personal instincts. The public announcement by Trump caught some aides off guard because they were unaware of extensive discussions within the administration.
According to an anonymous White House official the president started thinking about the idea during the past weeks after reviewing reports about Gaza’s destruction. Steve Witkoff, who serves as the special envoy to the Middle East, gave a grim report after visiting the enclave where he observed neighborhoods destroyed to rubble and essential infrastructure devastated.
The briefing revealed by Witkoff included descriptions of the wasteland with no running water or electricity alongside buildings that are on the verge of collapsing. The president believes he now has a chance to solve this problem.
After Trump claimed the U.S. could take charge of Gaza without international support regional leaders remain uncertain about the next steps. The countries of Egypt and Jordan immediately rejected any plan to take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza because they have historically managed Palestinian issues.
Middle East Allies Caught Off Guard
Arab leaders responded quickly with mostly negative reactions. Saudi Arabia which has pursued potential normalization with Israel rejected Trump’s remarks by stating that a permanent resolution requires a sovereign Palestinian state.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry declared that the Kingdom persists in supporting a lasting resolution which respects Palestinian rights.
King Abdullah of Jordan who will visit the White House next week is anticipated to confront Trump about his plan directly.
Netanyahu showed approval of Trump’s proposal in Israel yet the details of his advance knowledge about the president’s announcement are still unknown. The statement from His office praised Trump’s “commitment to regional stability” yet did not fully support the details of the plan.
Congressional Pushback and Political Fallout
Republican allies of Trump expressed deep skepticism about the proposal as soon as it reached Capitol Hill. Members of Congress from both political parties criticized the move as impractical because it might draw the U.S. into another enduring Middle Eastern war.
The potential open-ended nature of military involvement worries Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina, who stated he needs more details before believing it to be realistic.
Democratic leaders were even more direct. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee member Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut described the proposal as a reckless fantasy which disregards longstanding diplomatic efforts and Palestinian rights.
“This is not real estate development. These are people’s lives,” Murphy said.
The Real Estate Angle
Trump who worked as a real estate developer before his presidency has promoted Gaza’s coastal position as a valuable asset that could be developed into a luxury tourism hub. Jared Kushner who served as the main negotiator for Middle East peace talks during Trump’s first term previously referred to Gaza’s waterfront as potential real estate that holds value.
Trump told attendees at a recent private fundraiser that the location represents some of the world’s finest real estate because it sits on the sea with incredible weather according to someone who was present. We can do something truly special there.”
Unanswered Questions
Trump has not provided details about how the U.S. would legally obtain control of Gaza and govern it as well as how Israel’s role would be defined and if the Palestinian Authority would participate at all.
Without specific details people see the plan as both impractical and provocative but Trump’s allies insist his unconventional strategy may stimulate a regional reassessment of Gaza’s future status.
“The old way hasn’t worked so bold ideas are necessary to create change,” stated Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida. Maybe this will.”
At present Trump’s proposal exists solely as an idea because it lacks a defined plan. It is yet unknown if the proposal will achieve momentum or become just another Trumpian controversy.
