Trump Proposes US Takeover of Gaza Strip and Relocation of Residents
WASHINGTON -- President Trump proposed a US takeover of the Gaza Strip Tuesday, shortly after suggesting the removal of "all" Palestinians living there.
"The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too," Trump stated at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings -- level it out and create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area."
Trump mentioned that the roughly 2 million Gaza Strip residents would be relocated to neighboring countries.
"Just can't go back. If you go back, it's going to end up the same way it has for 100 years," he added during the press conference.
Trump also stated he would deploy US troops to the territory "if it's necessary."
However, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders have already rejected Trump's request to accept the Gazans, and the specifics of how the population relocation would occur remain unclear.
