In a controversial and unprecedented statement, US President Donald Trump declared that the United States will “take over” the war-ravaged Gaza Strip following its devastation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a joint press conference, proposed that the US would “own” Gaza after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere, claiming that America would be responsible for the reconstruction of the area. The plan, which Trump described as a long-term vision, includes the dismantling of unexploded ordnance, the demolition of ruined buildings, and the establishment of an economic development project designed to create jobs and housing.

The announcement has sent shockwaves across the global political landscape, as it raises serious questions about sovereignty, international law, and the future of Gaza’s Palestinian population. Trump’s assertion that the US would take responsibility for Gaza’s future without clear details on the authority for such an occupation challenges established norms of international relations. Despite his promise of prosperity through economic development, the underlying implications of US control in such a volatile region are unclear and unsettling.

Netanyahu, who praised Trump’s “outside-the-box” thinking, echoed the sentiment that this approach could change the course of history. Yet, no specifics have been offered on how the US would address the political and humanitarian realities of displacing 2.1 million Palestinians, nor how it would manage the deeply entrenched animosities in the region.

While Trump’s vision for a rebuilt Gaza may seem appealing to some, the feasibility and morality of US ownership over a foreign territory—especially one so fraught with political complexities—remain highly questionable. In the absence of a clear legal framework, this proposal risks exacerbating tensions rather than resolving them.