Trump: US Should Take Gaza, Make It “Freedom Zone”
Doha (Quds News Network)- President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States should “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone,” doubling down on his controversial proposal to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Palestinian territory, as Israel prepares a major offensive and escalates its deadly attacks.
Trump made the comments to reporters after a meeting with business leaders in Doha.
He said he wanted the US to “take” Gaza and turn it into a “freedom zone”.
“Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years,” Trump said. “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good — make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone.”
Trump described aerial images of the widespread destruction from the Israeli assault on Gaza.
“I have aerial shots where, I mean, there’s practically no building standing. It’s not like you’re trying to save something. There’s no building. People are living under the rubble of buildings that collapsed, which is not acceptable,” he said.
Trump had previously proposed permanently and forcibly displacing Palestinians from Gaza and transforming the area into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” His plan envisioned a developed, Palestinian-free zone under US control and ownership, where “the world’s people” could reside.
He also suggested that Jordan and Egypt take in displaced Palestinians, a proposal that both countries firmly rejected. Palestinians in Gaza rejected this proposal, describing it as ethnic cleansing, while Arab nations backed Egypt’s Gaza reconstruction plan to rebuild Gaza without displacing its residents.
