Trump says U.S. may take over Gaza Strip

President Donald Trump on Thursday evening would not rule out deploying American troops in order to seize the Gaza Strip and rebuild it into what he described as a vibrant area that could host thousands of jobs. The U.S. military could help clean up unexploded bombs and other dangerous weapons scattered throughout the region, he said. American forces could also level all the destroyed infrastructure to make way for economic development, he added.

Trump’s comments came during a joint White House news conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu on Tuesday became the first foreign leader to meet with Trump since his return to the Oval Office.

What about Palestinian refugees currently returning as a result of the ceasefire? Trump insisted that Palestinian refugees should relocate to other Middle Eastern countries instead of returning to the Gaza Strip. Gaza is a demolition site now with tunnels and explosives scattered everywhere, he said. Trump noted the cyclical history of violence in Gaza and said Palestinians only want to return because they have no other options. Trump questioned why civilians would want to return to Gaza, claiming that all Palestinians had experienced there was violence and death. He added that if Palestinians did return, it would only restart the centuries-long pattern of violence.

What did Netanyahu have to say? The prime minister praised Trump, calling him the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House. He went on to recount several actions the president had taken recently that he said were of substantial benefit to Israel. He credited Trump with freeing up weapons that had previously been withheld from Israel in its battle against Hamas. He also praised Trump’s decision earlier in the day to renew maximum pressure against Iran to prevent it from attaining a nuclear weapon.

Netanyahu went on to reiterate Israel’s unbending mission to retrieve all hostages from Gaza and destroy the terror group Hamas to ensure it never again threatens Israel.

What did Trump and Netanyahu discuss behind closed doors? Netanyahu planned to discuss critical issues with Trump, including a final victory over Hamas and a safe return of all the hostages, according to a statement he released. He also planned to discuss actions for dealing with Iran and the terror groups it supports, the statement added. Netanyahu said his aim was to achieve a new era of peace and strength with Trump.

Dig deeper: Read my report on Trump cutting UN aid to Palestinians hours before meeting with Netanyahu.