WASHINGTON, Feb 5:  President Donald Trump proposed a controversial plan on Tuesday night calling for a US takeover of the Gaza Strip, just hours after suggesting that all Palestinians in the area be relocated to other countries.

At a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced, “The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too.” He outlined a plan where the US would assume responsibility for dismantling unexploded bombs, removing destroyed buildings, and leveling the site. The proposal also included creating economic development with an emphasis on providing jobs and housing for the region’s population.

Trump further added that the 2 million residents of Gaza would be moved to neighboring countries during a transitional phase, and he made it clear that they would not be allowed to return to Gaza after the relocation. "Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years," Trump said.

The president suggested that US troops could be deployed to the region "if necessary" and envisioned the area eventually becoming an “international unbelievable place,” likening it to “the Riviera of the Middle East,” with some Palestinians permitted to resettle.

Netanyahu, who was standing by Trump, expressed strong support for the idea, calling it a potentially historic move. “I think it’s something that could change history,” he said. “He has a different idea, and I think it’s worth paying attention to this.”

Trump, who has been critical of past US military interventions in the Middle East, did not provide a timeline for either the proposed US occupation or the relocation of Gaza’s residents. However, he presented the plan as a well-considered “strong recommendation” for bringing stability and peace to the region.

“I’ve studied this very closely over a lot of months, and I’ve seen it from every different angle,” Trump stated. He added that Middle Eastern leaders he consulted with were supportive of the idea, saying it would bring the region much-needed stability.

The US president also warned that if Hamas, the militant group that still controls parts of Gaza, fails to adhere to ceasefire agreements and release hostages taken during the October 2023 attack, the US would become “somewhat more violent” in its response.

Although Egyptian and Jordanian leaders have rejected Trump’s request to take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, the president expressed confidence that they would eventually agree. He also claimed that Palestinians would be eager to relocate, stating, “Gaza is a hellhole right now,” and adding that the new community would offer residents a chance to live in a safe and secure environment.

In comments made earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that relocated Gazans would not want to return. “I do see a long-term ownership position,” he said. “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something magnificent.”

The proposal has sparked debate and criticism, but Trump and Netanyahu are both pushing for the plan, which they believe could fundamentally alter the future of the region.