Trump says the U.S. will 'own' Gaza — what that could mean for the Middle East

Summary

Consider This: Trump Says the U.S. Will 'Own' Gaza — What That Could Mean for the Middle East

Episode Release Date: February 12, 2025
Host: Ari Shapiro and NPR Team

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Introduction

In this episode of NPR's Consider This, hosts Ari Shapiro and team delve into President Donald Trump's controversial declaration that the United States will take control of the Gaza Strip. This bold assertion has significant implications for the Middle East, particularly amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. The episode provides an in-depth analysis of Trump's proposal, the reactions it has elicited from international leaders, its impact on the fragile ceasefire, and the sentiments of those living in Gaza.

Trump's Proposal to Own Gaza

President Trump's announcement posits that the U.S. will assume ownership of the Gaza Strip, a region roughly twice the size of Washington, D.C., with a population of approximately two million people. During a televised Oval Office session on Tuesday, Trump outlined his plan:

Donald Trump (00:16): "Over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too."

He elaborated on the logistics of his proposal, emphasizing the relocation of Gaza's residents to neighboring countries:

Donald Trump (00:20): "Responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out."

Additionally, Trump assured that Palestinians would not be permitted to return, sparking accusations of ethnic cleansing:

Donald Trump (08:09): "Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. Would the Palestinians turn? No, they wouldn't."

International Reactions: Leaders Speak Out

Trump's proposal has been met with significant resistance from regional and international leaders. King Abdullah of Jordan, present during Trump's announcement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, responded cautiously:

King Abdullah (01:07): "Follow up with one on that for King Abdullah. Can you clarify again, sir, how do you feel about the US Taking Gaza? As the president said, well, again, this is something that we as Arabs will be coming to the United States with, something that we're going to talk about later to discuss all these options."

However, his response did not signal support, rather deferring the discussion. Both Egypt and Jordan have formally rejected Trump's plan, with Trump threatening to cut U.S. aid and military support to these nations if they do not comply:

Kat Lansdorf (03:53): "Both Jordan and Egypt have outright rejected Trump's plan, but Trump has made threats of cuts in US Aid and military spending to both. You know, both Egypt and Jordan depend heavily on US Support."

Democratic Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen also voiced his opposition, describing the proposal as horrifying.

Impact on Ceasefire and Israel-Hamas Conflict

The U.S. has been instrumental in brokerting a tentative ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump's additional proposal could undermine these delicate negotiations:

Kat Lansdorf (04:49): "The US Taking over Gaza and relocating all of the Palestinians from there is not part of this ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire agreement took months to hammer out, and the U.S. including members of Trump's own administration, helped broker it."

This has created confusion and uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the ceasefire, as stakeholders are now distracted by the potential U.S. takeover of Gaza.

Voices from Gaza: Desecrate and Determination

On the ground in Gaza, the sentiments among residents are varied but deeply influenced by the ongoing conflict and Trump's proposal. Many express a strong desire to remain despite harsh living conditions:

Bassam Mohammed Abdulrouf (05:35): "Even if there was a place that was a million times better, I would still live among the rubble and the tents. It's hard to describe my love for Gaza."

Nehed Khonem (05:35): "This is my homeland, and I have no intention to leave, even if Trump provides me with the best of everything somewhere else. The graves of my family killed during the war are in Gaza and I won't leave them, and that my children were also killed and remain buried under the rubble in Gaza."

Conversely, some residents like Yahi express a willingness to relocate if given the opportunity, highlighting the dire circumstances:

Yahi (06:48): "My home is gone, my life is gone, my future is gone. If I can find a country that embraces me, provides me with safety, I will go."

However, the reality of relocation remains bleak, as Gaza is tightly controlled by Israel and surrounded by barriers, making emigration nearly impossible.

Historical Context: A Painful Legacy

The proposition to relocate Palestinians echoes a painful history of displacement and disenfranchisement. Many Palestinians are refugees whose ancestors were displaced during the establishment of Israel. Trump's plan raises fears of repeating historical injustices:

Kat Lansdorf (07:35): "Historically, Palestinians have been displaced or forcibly moved from their land and then never been allowed to return, including most Palestinians living in Gaza right now. So adding to that controversy in Trump's plan is whether or not Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza if they did leave."

The Trump administration claims the move is temporary, but statements like Trump's refusal to allow a right of return exacerbate concerns:

Donald Trump (08:09): "No, they wouldn't have the right to return."

Israeli Perspectives: A Divided Nation

Within Israel, reactions to Trump's proposal vary. While far-right factions and allies support the plan to depopulate Gaza, the general Israeli populace remains focused on maintaining the ceasefire and securing the release of hostages:

Kat Lansdorf (08:21): "Netanyahu's far right allies are praising Trump's plan. Pushing Palestinians out of Gaza is something that they've been proposing for a while, but the average Israeli is much more focused on keeping the ceasefire deal going and getting the rest of the Israeli hostages out of Gaza."

A majority of Israelis are in favor of the ceasefire and view Trump's announcement as a potential distraction from their immediate priorities.

Conclusion

President Trump's declaration to have the United States take control of Gaza has ignited a complex web of political, social, and humanitarian issues. While the proposal has been met with staunch opposition from Arab leaders and humanitarian organizations, it has also introduced uncertainty into the already fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The voices from Gaza reflect a community torn between a desire to stay in their homeland and the grim reality of displacement. As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely to assess the ramifications of such a unprecedented move by the U.S. government.

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Produced by Mia Venkat, Edited by Courtney Dorning, James Heider, and Nadia Lancy. Executive Producer: Sammy Yenigun.

Transcript

[Ari Shapiro]

The Gaza Strip, ground zero of Israel's war with Hamas, is only about twice the size of Washington, D.C. it has about 25 miles of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea with a population of about 2 million people. And last week, the US will take.

[Donald Trump]

Over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too.

[Ari Shapiro]

President Trump proposed relocating those people to other countries in the region, like Egypt. And Jordan will own it and be.

[Donald Trump]

Responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out.

[Ari Shapiro]

Trump has said the Palestinians would not be allowed to return. UN Officials and others say Trump's plan would amount to ethnic cleansing. And despite domestic and international concerns that the US Is empire building, Trump continues to double down on his plans for the US to own Gaza. He brought it up in the Oval Office on Tuesday while sitting next to the King of Jordan. King Abdullah was asked directly what he thought of Trump's plan.

[King Abdullah]

Follow up with one on that for King Abdullah. Can you clarify again, sir, how do you feel about the US Taking Gaza? As the president said, well, again, this is something that we as Arabs will be coming to the United States with, something that we're going to talk about later to discuss all these options.

[Ari Shapiro]

Consider this Trump says the US Is going to take over Gaza, though he offers few specifics. What could the proposal mean for Palestinians and the broader Middle East? From npr, I'm Ari Shapiro.

[NPR Producer]

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[Ari Shapiro]

It'S consider this from NPR. President Trump continues to insist that the U.S. will take over Gaza, that its residents will be moved to what Trump calls a beautiful location with new houses. Many people have reacted with horror, including Democratic Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen last week on msnbc.

[King Abdullah]

This isn't just like a paper violation of international law. It is ethnic cleansing by another name, and it will certainly embolden our adversaries.

[Ari Shapiro]

NPR's Kat Lonzdorf joins us from Tel Aviv. She has been following all of this closely and hearing from Palestinians in Gaza. Hi, Kat.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Hey, Ari.

[Ari Shapiro]

Let's start with that moment in the Oval Office on Tuesday afternoon. You had Trump insisting that this will happen and King Abdullah of Jordan not existing. Exactly. Saying no, but not saying yes either. What have leaders of Egypt and Jordan been saying?

[Kat Lansdorf]

Yeah, like you said, King Abdullah was reticent on TV and careful not to make any kind of commitment. Both Jordan and Egypt have outright rejected Trump's plan, but Trump has made threats of cuts in US Aid and military spending to both. You know, both Egypt and Jordan depend heavily on US Support. Abdullah is in a tough place here, which is why he was so cautious. He said he had to discuss the idea with other regional leaders. But there are no Arab leaders in the region who support this plan. It's possible that Abdullah and others are hoping Saudi Arabia, which is richer and more powerful, will talk Trump out of it. The Saudis were the first in the region to reject it. And very swiftly in the week since.

[Ari Shapiro]

Trump stood next to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threw out the idea, a shaky ceasefire in Gaza has become more shaky. What impact has Trump's proposal had?

[Kat Lansdorf]

So Trump's proposal for Gaza hasn't directly come up in the current back and forth between Israel and Hamas, but it's certainly in the background. The US Taking over Gaza and relocating all of the Palestinians from there is not part of this ceasefire agreement. The ceasefire agreement took months to hammer out, and the U.S. including members of Trump's own administration, helped broker it. So there's a lot of confusion on how this ceasefire agreement can actually proceed if Trump keeps pushing this controversial plan.

[Ari Shapiro]

So those are the broad political dynamics. All of this discussion centers on the people of Gaza who have already suffered war displacement and are now beginning to return to areas that may be all but destroyed. So what are you hearing from people on the ground there?

[Kat Lansdorf]

Yeah, for the most part, Palestinians we've heard from there say they want to stay in Gaza despite the destruction and difficult living conditions they're faced with right now. Many feel like they've struggled throughout this entire war for Gaza to stay there, and they're not about to be forced off the land now. Here's 29 year old Bassam Mohammed Abdulrouf. He talked to NPR's producer in Gaza, Anas Baba, while standing amidst the ruins of the main square in Gaza City. Even if there was a place that was a million times better, I would still live among the rubble and the tents, he says. It's hard to describe my love for Gaza, he says. Another person Anas Baba talked to in Gaza City was Nehed Khonem. He's a surgeon at one of the hospitals there. This is my homeland, he says, and I have no intention to leave, even if Trump provides me with the best of everything somewhere else. He went on to point out that the graves of his family killed during the war are in Gaza and he won't leave them, and that his children were also killed and remain buried under the rubble in Gaza.

[Ari Shapiro]

Hmm. Have you heard from anyone there who does want to leave?

[Kat Lansdorf]

Yeah, we have. You know, like you said, Gaza is largely destroyed and life there is really difficult right now. Here's 30 year old Yahi. He said he would leave if given the chance. My home is gone, my life is gone, my future is gone, he says. If I can find a country that embraces me, provides me with safety, I will go. You know, it's important to note that as of right now, Palestinians can't leave Gaza and haven't been able to for much of the war. It's an area surrounded by walls and fences and then the sea on one side and Israel controls who gets in or out. So the idea that anyone could just leave isn't realistic and hasn't been for quite a while.

[Ari Shapiro]

There is a fraught history behind Palestinians being relocated. How does that factor into what you're hearing from people?

[Kat Lansdorf]

The idea of being relocated is a very emotional and unsettling one for Palestinians. Historically, Palestinians have been displaced or forcibly moved from their land and then never been allowed to return, including most Palestinians living in Gaza right now. They're refugees from what was once Palestinian land and is now Israel. So adding to that controversy in Trump's plan is whether or not Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza if they did leave. Trump administration officials have been calling it a temporary move for now. But then in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired Monday, Trump.

[Donald Trump]

Said this Think of it as a real estate development for the future. It would be a beautiful piece of land. Would the Palestinians turn? No, they wouldn't.

[Kat Lansdorf]

No, they wouldn't have the right to return, he said, which really put Palestinians and others watching this on high alert.

[Ari Shapiro]

Well, we know that Netanyahu thinks this is a good idea. What are other Israelis saying?

[Kat Lansdorf]

Netanyahu's far right allies are praising Trump's plan. Pushing Palestinians out of Gaza is something that they've been proposing for a while, but the average Israeli is much more focused on keeping the ceasefire deal going and getting the rest of the Israeli hostages out of Gaza. A large majority of Israelis support the ceasefire continuing, and there's a feeling among a lot of them that this sudden proposal for the US to take over Gaza and all the confusion and emotions that come with it is distracting from that goal.

[Ari Shapiro]

NPR's Kat Lansdorf in Tel Aviv. Thank you.

[Kat Lansdorf]

Thank you, Ari.

[Ari Shapiro]

This episode was produced by Mia Venkat. It was edited by Courtney Dorning, James Heider and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. It's consider this from npr. I'm Ari Shapiro.

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