US President Donald Trump’s proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and redevelop it has drawn sharp criticism, with rights groups and analysts condemning it as a call for ethnic cleansing.
Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, said, “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too.” He added that the US envisions “a long-term ownership position” and would create “unlimited numbers of jobs and housing” in the area.
The remarks have sparked backlash, with critics warning that such a move would forcibly displace Palestinians and violate international law. Steve Cutts, interim CEO of Medical Aid for Palestinians, called the proposal “tantamount to ethnic cleansing and a war crime.”
“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States or Israel,” Cutts said in a statement, warning that the fate of two million Palestinians “hangs in the balance.”
Investigative journalist Antony Loewenstein also condemned the remarks, saying they reflect longstanding Israeli far-right policies. Speaking on CNN, Loewenstein described Trump’s comments as “a wish for ethnic cleansing,” linking them to historical efforts to remove Palestinians from their land.
Saudi Arabia reiterated its stance on Palestinian sovereignty, stating its commitment to an independent Palestinian state remains “firm and unshakable.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu appeared open to Trump’s proposal, saying the idea could “change history” and that Israel’s priority remains ensuring Gaza is no longer a security threat.
