U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he is committed to “buying and owning Gaza.” Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to the Super Bowl in New Orleans, Trump stated that while the U.S. would claim ownership of the territory, reconstruction efforts could be handed over to Middle Eastern states.
“There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished. Everything’s demolished,” Trump remarked, reinforcing his vision of a complete overhaul of the war-ravaged enclave. He further suggested that displaced Palestinians might be considered for resettlement in the United States, albeit on a case-by-case basis.
Trump’s remarks have been met with widespread condemnation, particularly from Palestinian groups. Ezzat El Rashq, a senior member of Hamas, rejected the proposal outright, stating, “Gaza is not a property to be sold and bought. It is an integral part of our occupied Palestinian land.” Rashq further vowed that Palestinians would resist any attempts at displacement.
The controversial proposal has also drawn criticism from multiple world leaders. Saudi Arabia has categorically rejected the plan, while Jordan’s King Abdullah is expected to confront Trump about it during their scheduled meeting in Washington on February 11. According to Reuters, the Jordanian king will argue that the proposal risks fueling radicalism and destabilizing the region.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed that Trump is set to engage with key regional leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. However, the specifics of these discussions remain unclear. Herzog emphasized the need for cooperation with Arab states to develop a sustainable approach to the crisis, but many observers remain skeptical about Trump’s unilateral rhetoric.
Trump’s idea of transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” has further fueled outrage, as it appears to ignore the humanitarian crisis affecting millions of Palestinians. His comments follow a prolonged period of bombardment by Israel in retaliation for Hamas’s October 2023 attack. Yet, Trump has offered no clear legal or diplomatic basis for how the U.S. would assert control over Gaza.
With Middle Eastern states voicing strong opposition and growing concerns about regional stability, Trump’s proposal faces major geopolitical hurdles. The White House has not issued an official response, and officials in Cairo and Riyadh have remained silent on the matter. The coming days will reveal whether Trump’s controversial plan gains any traction or if it will be dismissed as yet another unattainable vision in Middle East diplomacy.
