In a surprising announcement during a joint White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that the United States could “take over” Gaza to oversee its reconstruction and economic development. The proposal, made as tensions in the Israel-Hamas cease-fire intensified, has drawn sharp criticism from regional leaders and Palestinian representatives.

Trump outlined a plan that would involve the U.S. clearing unexploded munitions and spearheading economic development in the war-torn region. However, his suggestion to temporarily relocate nearly two million Palestinians from Gaza during the rebuilding process has been met with widespread rejection. Leaders across the Middle East, including Hamas officials and Arab nations, have dismissed the idea as unworkable and inflammatory.

Representatives of Hamas condemned the proposal, calling it a “recipe for chaos and tension” in the region. The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the Palestinian people desire to return to their homes in Gaza, not be displaced elsewhere.

Trump’s remarks come amid heightened tensions in the region, with the fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas under strain. While the former president framed his proposal as a solution to stabilize Gaza and promote economic growth, critics argue that it overlooks the complex political and humanitarian realities on the ground.

The proposal has also reignited debates about the role of external powers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Middle Eastern leaders have repeatedly stressed the importance of Palestinian self-determination and sovereignty, rejecting any plans that involve foreign control or mass displacement.