On February 4, 2024, U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a joint press conference where Trump proposed a highly controversial idea—the U.S. would "take over" the Gaza Strip and expressed willingness to manage Gaza long-term. Trump stated that if necessary, the U.S. might dispatch troops to Gaza to aid in reconstruction efforts. "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip... we will own it," Trump emphasized during the press briefing.
Moreover, Trump suggested that displaced Palestinians should be permanently settled in regions outside the Gaza Strip. This remark immediately attracted widespread attention and criticism. Hamas senior official Sami Abu Zuhri stated that Trump's comments were unacceptable and accused them of bringing more chaos and tension to the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated during the conference that Trump's proposal aligns closely with Israel's objectives, believing it would change history and help Israel eliminate the threat from Gaza. Netanyahu also revealed that the U.S. had supplied previously withheld munitions to Israel.
Meanwhile, Trump mentioned that the U.S. might announce a stance on Israel's sovereignty issues in the West Bank within the next four weeks and plans to visit Israel, the Palestinian Gaza Strip, and Saudi Arabia.
However, there is strong opposition from Arab nations. Foreign ministers from Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE sent a formal letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, vehemently opposing the proposed Gaza Strip "relocation" plan, asserting that Palestinians should lead the reconstruction in Gaza and not be deprived of their basic rights. This joint letter further heightened regional tensions.
Additionally, Hamas spokesman Abdul-Latif Qanuwa stated that Hamas has begun indirect contacts on the second phase of the Gaza Strip ceasefire agreement, discussing continued negotiations on the exchange of detainees and other issues. Despite Israel's obstruction of certain humanitarian clauses in the ceasefire agreement, Hamas continues to advocate for the humanitarian aid and reconstruction for the Palestinian people.
Since the latest round of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict erupted in October 2023, over 47,000 Palestinians have died, and about 1 million have been displaced. The international community's focus will be on the progress of ceasefire negotiations in the coming weeks and whether Trump's proposal to "take over Gaza" will further escalate the situation.
