Trump says US will take over and develop Gaza Strip

President stuns White House press event with declaration

- AGENCY REPORTERS

President Donald Trump vowed last night that the US would take over the war-shattered Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically, a move that would shatter decades of US policy toward the IsraeliPalestinian conflict.

Mr Trump unveiled his surprise plan, without providing specifics, at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

That followed Mr Trump’s proposal earlier yesterday for the permanent resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries, calling the enclave a “demolition site”.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Mr Trump told reporters. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site.”

“If it’s necessary, we’ll do that, we’re going to take over that piece, we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of,” Mr Trump added.

Asked who would live there, he said it could become a home to “the world’s people”.

Mr Netanyahu said the president was “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas” and was “showing willingness to puncture conventional thinking.”