Donald Trump has sparked a firestorm of criticism with his proposal to have the United States take over Gaza, envisioning it as a "Riviera of the Middle East." This announcement came in response to widespread condemnation of Trump's initial statement on Tuesday. Trump claims Palestinians in Gaza would be relocated to safer, more beautiful communities in the region, despite the idea contradicting his previously stated opposition to U.S. intervention in the Middle East.
Trump reportedly conceived the plan after a conversation with Steve Witkoff, his Middle East envoy, who described Gaza as "uninhabitable" following Israel's military bombardment. The proposal, however, was not thoroughly discussed with Trump's aides before its announcement, and the White House has since appeared to distance itself from the notion under a barrage of criticism.
While no formal request has been made to the Pentagon for troop deployment plans to Gaza, Republican senators, including Lindsey Graham, have voiced strong opposition to the idea of sending U.S. troops. Graham stated his concerns about the proposal, emphasizing that deploying American forces in Gaza is a "nonstarter for every senator."
"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting." – Donald Trump
Trump's proposal has also been met with resistance from his "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) base. Among them, Steve Bannon highlighted their focus on domestic issues rather than foreign interventions, stating:
"We love the president, but our focus in the War Room is East Palestine, not Palestine.” – Steve Bannon
The international community has also reacted with caution. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned against "any form of ethnic cleansing" in Gaza. Analysts like Daniel Shapiro have expressed concerns over the potential implications of Trump's proposal being taken seriously by extremists.
"The danger is that extremists within the Israeli government and terrorists of various stripes will take it literally and seriously, and start to act on it” – Daniel Shapiro
In addition to political pushback, there are logistical challenges to Trump's proposal. No feasibility studies have been conducted by the State Department or the Pentagon, casting doubt on the practicality and potential consequences of such a move. Experts warn that this could endanger the release of hostages, place U.S. personnel at risk, and jeopardize prospects for a Saudi-Israel normalization deal.
"The Palestinians … 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. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed!" – Donald Trump
Despite the widespread opposition, Trump reiterated his proposal, emphasizing his vision for a transformed Gaza. However, Lindsey Graham pointed out that most Americans are likely to reject this idea.
"I think the reaction of most Americans, me included, is ‘not ours’. I think that’s the bottom line” – Lindsey Graham