President Donald Trump has mentioned america will “take over” and “personal” Gaza after an ethnic cleaning of Palestinians from the besieged enclave below a rare plan that he claimed may flip the enclave into “the Riviera of the Center East”.
Hamas, the Palestinian group that governs Gaza, swiftly condemned the proposal as a “recipe for creating chaos and stress within the area”.
Trump’s assertion on his Gaza plans got here whereas he was addressing a information convention on the White Home with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Right here’s what he instructed reporters:
“At this time I’m delighted to welcome Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again to the White Home. It’s a beautiful feeling and a beautiful occasion. We had improbable talks, and thanks very a lot, together with your employees.
“I wish to say it’s an honour to have you ever with us. Over the previous 4 years, the US and the Israeli alliance has been examined greater than any time in historical past, however the bonds of friendship and affection between the American and Israeli individuals have endured for generations and they’re completely unbreakable.
“I’m assured that, below our management, the cherished alliance between our two international locations will quickly be stronger than ever. We had an amazing relationship. We had nice victories collectively 4 years in the past, not so many victories over the previous 4 years, nevertheless. In my first time period, prime minister and I solid a tremendously profitable partnership that introduced peace and stability to the Center East prefer it hadn’t seen in many years.
“Collectively, we defeated ISIS [ISIL], we ended the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, one of many worst offers ever made, and imposed the hardest ever sanctions on the Iranian regime. We starved Hamas and Iran’s different terrorist proxies, and we starved them like they’d by no means seen earlier than, sources and assist disappeared for them.
“I recognised Israel’s capital, opened the American embassy in Jerusalem and bought it constructed. We bought it constructed. It’s stunning, all Jerusalem stone proper from close by and it was – it’s one thing that’s very particular.
“And recognised Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, one thing that they talked about for 70 years they usually weren’t capable of get it. And I bought it. And with the historic Abraham Accords, one thing that was actually an achievement that was, I believe, going to turn out to be an increasing number of necessary as a result of we achieved essentially the most vital Center East peace agreements in half a century.
“And I actually imagine that many international locations will quickly be becoming a member of this superb peace and financial growth transaction. It truly is a giant financial growth transaction. I believe we’re going to have lots of people signing up in a short time. Sadly, for 4 years, no one signed up. No one did something for 4 years besides within the destructive.
“Sadly, the weak spot and incompetence of these previous 4 years, the grave harm across the globe that was completed, together with within the Center East, grave harm all around the globe. The horrors of October seventh would by no means have occurred if I have been president, the Ukraine and Russia catastrophe would by no means have occurred if I have been president.
“Over the previous 16 months, Israel has endured a sustained aggressive and murderous assault on each entrance, however they fought again bravely. You see that and you realize that. What we’ve got witnessed is an all-out assault on the very existence of a Jewish state within the Jewish homeland. The Israelis have stood sturdy and united within the face of an enemy that has kidnapped, tortured, raped and slaughtered harmless males, girls, kids and even little infants.
“I wish to salute the Israeli individuals for assembly this trial with braveness and willpower and unflinching resolve. They’ve been sturdy. In our conferences at present, the prime minister and I targeted on the long run, discussing how we will work collectively to make sure Hamas is eradicated and in the end restore peace to a really troubled area.
“It’s been troubled, however what has occurred within the final 4 years has not been good.
“I additionally strongly imagine that the Gaza Strip, which has been a logo of loss of life and destruction for therefore many many years and so dangerous for the individuals anyplace close to it, and particularly those that dwell there and albeit who’s been actually very unfortunate. It’s been very unfortunate. It’s been an unfortunate place for a very long time.
“Being in its presence simply has not been good and it shouldn’t undergo a means of rebuilding and occupation by the identical folks that have actually stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a depressing existence there. As a substitute, we must always go to different international locations of curiosity with humanitarian hearts, and there are numerous of them that wish to do that and construct numerous domains that can in the end be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians residing in Gaza, ending the loss of life and destruction and albeit dangerous luck.
“This may be paid for by neighbouring international locations of nice wealth. It may very well be one, two, three, 4, 5, seven, eight, 12. It may very well be quite a few websites, or it may very well be one giant web site. However the individuals will be capable of dwell in consolation and peace and we’ll make certain one thing actually spectacular is finished.
“They’re going to have peace. They’re not going to be shot at and killed and destroyed like this civilisation of fantastic individuals has needed to endure. The one purpose the Palestinians wish to return to Gaza is that they haven’t any various. It’s proper now a demolition web site. That is only a demolition web site. Nearly each constructing is down.
“They’re residing below fallen concrete that’s very harmful and really precarious. They as an alternative can occupy all of a gorgeous space with houses and security they usually can dwell out their lives in peace and concord as an alternative of getting to return and do it once more.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we’ll do a job with it too. We’ll personal it and be liable for dismantling all the harmful unexploded bombs and different weapons on the location, degree the location and do away with the destroyed buildings, degree it out. Create an financial growth that can provide limitless numbers of jobs and housing for the individuals of the world … do an actual job, do one thing completely different.
“Simply can’t return. Should you return, it’s going to finish up the identical manner it has for 100 years. I’m hopeful that this ceasefire may very well be the start of a bigger and extra enduring peace that can finish the bloodshed and killing as soon as and for all. With the identical aim in thoughts, my administration has been transferring rapidly to revive belief within the alliance and rebuild American energy all through the area and we’ve actually completed that.
“I ended the final administration’s de facto arms embargo on over $1bn, in navy help for Israel. And I’m additionally happy to announce that this afternoon, america withdrew from the anti-Semitic UN Human Rights Council and ended all the assist for the UN Aid and Works Company, which funnelled cash to Hamas, and which was very disloyal to humanity.”
