President Donald Trump stated on Friday that there is “no rush” to advance his controversial “Gaza takeover” plan, which he characterized as a “real estate transaction” between the United States and Israel. His remarks, made during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in the Oval Office, appeared to slow momentum on the proposal, which has sparked widespread concern across the Middle East and among America’s Arab allies.
Why It Matters
Trump’s comments come amid growing international criticism of the plan, which was unveiled earlier this week. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the proposal on Wednesday, describing it as “tantamount to ethnic cleansing.” The UN considers forced population relocation a crime against humanity.
The Plan in Brief
On Tuesday, Trump outlined a proposal to displace approximately two million Palestinians from Gaza and take control of the enclave. While he initially did not rule out deploying U.S. troops to facilitate the plan—a departure from his usual stance against foreign military involvement—he later suggested that American forces would not be necessary.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas swiftly rejected the idea, asserting that Gaza is “an integral part of the State of Palestine.” Regional powers, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have also voiced strong opposition to any plan that involves displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
Walking Back the Plan?
Over the past 72 hours, the White House has appeared to partially backtrack on the proposal. Trump emphasized on Friday that there are “no deliberations” currently underway regarding the plan.
“The U.S. would view it as a real estate transaction. We will be an investor in this part of the world. No rush to do anything,” he said. Trump added that Israel would “supply” Gaza to the U.S. once the area is vacated, eliminating the need for U.S. troops. Instead, he suggested that American investment in Gaza could foster peace and stability in the region.
“We don’t want to see everybody move back and then leave again in 10 years. We want to see stability, and it would bring stability to the area,” Trump said.
Regional and International Reactions
The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from Middle Eastern nations and international organizations. Many view the plan as a violation of Palestinian rights and a potential catalyst for further instability in the region.
As the White House appears to soften its stance, the future of the proposal remains uncertain. For now, Trump’s comments suggest a pause in the push to move forward with the controversial plan, leaving its fate—and its potential consequences—unclear.
