Earlier this week during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump announced plans for the United States to seize control over Gaza and establish a “riviera” in the Middle East. Many were shocked by the idea of foreign policy proposed by the president. Even members of his administration were caught off guard and forced to walk back on his earlier remarks. Trump’s plan to “reconstruct” Gaza is reflective of his career as a businessman. During the press conference, he also proposed plans for other countries to take in Gazans while such reconstructions would be done. It was unclear whether or not they’d return after the construction but his remarks about the unlivable conditions in Gaza suggest that they would not. This gained a lot of criticism as it sounds similar to ethnic cleansing which is the process of systematic removal of a certain population from an area.
Trump’s rhetoric has prompted Representative Al Green to propose letters of impeachment against the president. He cites Trump’s supposed endorsement of ethnic cleansing within the Gaza Strip. Additionally, criticism has come from some arab american supporters of his who voted for him with the hope that he’d be less hostile toward the prospect of a Palestinian state
This decision for the United States to assume control over the Gaza Strip has been proposed amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The multi-stage ceasefire deal will allow for the release of Israeli hostages who were abducted on October 7th, 2023 in exchange for Palestinian detainees in Israel. It is unclear how exactly Trump plans to move forward with his proposal as Hamas currently controls Gaza and therefore it is not so simple for the United States to go and intervene. Since the start of the deal, multiple hostages have been released and reunited with their families. More information about the ceasefire deal can be found here.
It is uncertain what the future of the Israeli-Hamas war will be, especially with a new administration in power. It’s unclear what the future of the whole conflict and the Middle East will look like. Thus, it’s important to stay up to date and research the issues thoroughly.
