Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial statements about Gaza, declaring his commitment to “buy and own Gaza,” with the possibility of granting parts of it to other countries in the Middle East to help in its reconstruction. Trump indicated his intention to transform Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, such as Egypt and Jordan, claiming that “Palestinians will not want to return to Gaza if we provide them with a better alternative.”

In remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump confirmed that he would work on rebuilding Gaza in cooperation with wealthy Gulf countries, noting that he would ensure Palestinians would not be harmed after the implementation of this plan. He added: “Gaza is a prime real estate location that we cannot leave... We will rebuild it with the help of other countries.”

The U.S. president also stated that he would consider individual cases to allow some Palestinian refugees to enter the United States, and that some countries in the Middle East would accept Palestinians after consulting with him. Trump announced upcoming talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman regarding his plan for Gaza, without specifying a date for these meetings.

Sharp International and Arab Criticism

Trump's statements sparked widespread anger in the Arab and Islamic world, and faced sharp criticism from the international community. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Trump's proposal as a “scandal,” reaffirming his country's firm rejection of any plan aimed at relocating Gaza's population or seizing the territory. Amnesty International deemed these statements “shameful and unlawful,” warning that any attempt to forcibly deport Palestinians constitutes a “war crime” under international law.

In the same context, Turkey expressed its firm rejection of the plan, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asserting that “Palestine, including Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, belongs to the Palestinians, and no one can decide their fate.”

On the Arab front, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia categorically rejected the idea of resettling Palestinians outside their land. Cairo and Amman affirmed that any talk of transferring Palestinians contradicts the historical and international rights of the Palestinian people. Riyadh also emphasized the necessity of finding a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue without infringing on Palestinians' rights to their land.

Angry Palestinian Reactions

Meanwhile, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned Trump's statements, terming them “colonial and aggressive,” asserting that the Palestinian people “will not accept any attempts to displace them or sell their land.” Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Waseel Abu Yusuf, considered these statements to “reveal the true face of the U.S. administration that supports Israeli occupation unconditionally.”

In response to these criticisms, Trump later stated that there is “no need to rush” in implementing his proposal, indicating that the plan requires more time and planning, yet he did not back down from the idea, affirming that he would work to convince regional countries to support it.

Uncertain Future and Concerns About Escalation

These developments come amid ongoing tensions in Gaza and the West Bank, where fears are growing regarding the implications of these statements on regional stability. Analysts indicate that Trump’s proposal could contribute to complicating the political situation, especially with the involved countries' rejection and some Western powers' support for maintaining the status quo without radical changes.

The question remains open about how serious Trump is in implementing his plan, and whether this proposition is merely a political maneuver or reflects a genuine direction of the next U.S. administration toward Gaza and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.