Details hazy | Secretary of State Marco Rubio says displacements of Palestinians temporary; no US money or funds for reconstruction, says Prez

Agencies WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump has reiterated his proposal for a “US takeover of the Gaza Strip”, despite widespread rejection from Palestinians and global leaders. Trumps  comments came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during a tour of Central America, described the plan as temporary, suggesting Gazans would leave while debris was cleared and reconstruction took place. Under international law, forced population transfers from occupied territories are prohibited.

According to the BBC, Trump’s latest social media post sheds more light on his proposal, though many details remain vague or contradict his officials. He stated that Gaza would be “turned over” to the US by Israel after the war. The plan envisions Israel expelling all Palestinians, with the US taking over as the occupying power—without deploying American troops.

Trump claims the US, working with international development teams, would rebuild Gaza into “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth”. However, he insists the US would not finance the project, leaving other nations to foot the bill. He also suggests that most Palestinians would be permanently resettled elsewhere.

Trump first unveiled this plan on Tuesday night, only to face immediate rejection from Palestinians and world leaders. Undeterred, he doubled down on his Truth Social platform, declaring: “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting.

The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free.

The US, working with great development teams from all over the world, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No US soldiers would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!” Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader and a Democrat, recently criticized Trump as “reckless and lawless”.

Israel Responds

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz welcomed Trump’s plan, instructing the army to draft a proposal for the “voluntary departure” of Gaza’s residents, Israeli media reported. Asked which nations should take in displaced Palestinians, Katz pointed to countries critical of Israel’s military actions, such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway.

He argued these nations had a legal obligation to accept Gazans, stating, “Their hypocrisy will be exposed if they refuse to do so.” Katz also mentioned Canada, which has a structured immigration program and had previously expressed willingness to accept Gaza residents.

Trump’s proposal has triggered significant backlash, with critics condemning it as unrealistic and illegal under international law. However, his persistence signals that the issue will remain a contentious topic in US foreign policy discussions.