On Thursday, Hamas denounced a US President Donald Trump’s proposal that the United States take control of Gaza as a declaration of intent to occupy the Palestinian territory.
He demanded an emergency Arab summit to defy what he said was a “displacement project” for the people of Gaza. Hazem Qassem made the comment after Trump revived his proposal on Truth Social. “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” Trump wrote.
The proposal, reportedly made without prior consultations with the Pentagon or State Department, has drawn widespread criticism. The United Nations warned that any forced displacement of Palestinians could amount to “ethnic cleansing,” while global leaders swiftly rejected Trump’s suggestion.
Despite the backlash, Trump insisted his plan was widely supported, claiming, “Everybody loves it.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the idea, saying it was “not meant to be hostile,” while the White House clarified that there was no commitment to deploying US troops in Gaza and that any displacement of Palestinians would be “temporary.”
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to develop a plan for what he called “voluntary departures” of Palestinians from Gaza. He stated that options would include land, sea, and air exits for those willing to leave. Katz praised Trump’s proposal as “bold” and said Israel would work on arrangements for Palestinian relocation to countries willing to accept them.
The continued war by Israel and Hamas has ravaged Gaza, raising concerns about its future governance and its civilian population.
