President Donald Trump has stated america will “take over” and “personal” Gaza after an ethnic cleaning of Palestinians from the besieged enclave beneath a unprecedented 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 rigidity 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:
“Immediately 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 workers.
“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 folks have endured for generations and they’re completely unbreakable.
“I’m assured that, beneath our management, the cherished alliance between our two international locations will quickly be stronger than ever. We had a terrific relationship. We had nice victories collectively 4 years in the past, not so many victories over the previous 4 years, nonetheless. 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 a long time.
“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 that they had by no means seen earlier than, assets 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 lovely, 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 in a position to 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 increasingly more essential as a result of we achieved probably the most important Center East peace agreements in half a century.
“And I actually consider that many international locations will quickly be becoming a member of this superb peace and financial improvement transaction. It truly is an enormous financial improvement 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 damaging.
“Sadly, the weak spot and incompetence of these previous 4 years, the grave injury across the globe that was carried out, together with within the Center East, grave injury everywhere in the globe. The horrors of October seventh would by no means have occurred if I had been president, the Ukraine and Russia catastrophe would by no means have occurred if I had 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 recognize that. What we have now 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, ladies, youngsters and even little infants.
“I wish to salute the Israeli folks for assembly this trial with braveness and willpower and unflinching resolve. They’ve been sturdy. In our conferences in the present day, the prime minister and I targeted on the longer term, discussing how we will work collectively to make sure Hamas is eradicated and finally 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 consider that the Gaza Strip, which has been an emblem of loss of life and destruction for thus many a long time and so dangerous for the folks anyplace close to it, and particularly those that dwell there and admittedly 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 mustn’t undergo a technique 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 an alternative, we should always go to different international locations of curiosity with humanitarian hearts, and there are numerous of them that wish to do that and construct varied domains that can finally be occupied by the 1.8 million Palestinians residing in Gaza, ending the loss of life and destruction and admittedly 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 folks will be capable to 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 great folks has needed to endure. The one cause the Palestinians wish to return to Gaza is that they don’t have any various. It’s proper now a demolition web site. That is only a demolition web site. Just about each constructing is down.
“They’re residing beneath fallen concrete that’s very harmful and really precarious. They as an alternative can occupy all of a wonderful 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 are going to 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, stage the location and eliminate the destroyed buildings, stage it out. Create an financial improvement that can provide limitless numbers of jobs and housing for the folks of the world … do an actual job, do one thing completely different.
“Simply can’t return. When you return, it’s going to finish up the identical means 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 purpose in thoughts, my administration has been shifting rapidly to revive belief within the alliance and rebuild American power all through the area and we’ve actually carried out that.
“I ended the final administration’s de facto arms embargo on over $1bn, in army 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 Reduction and Works Company, which funnelled cash to Hamas, and which was very disloyal to humanity.”
