By MATTHEW LEE and ZEKE MILLER, Related Press
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump’s high diplomat and his foremost spokesperson on Wednesday walked again the thought that he needs the everlasting relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, after American allies and even Republican lawmakers rebuffed his suggestion that the U.S. take “ownership” of the territory.
Trump on Tuesday had referred to as for “permanently” resettling Palestinians from war-torn Gaza and left open the door to deploying American troops there as a part of a large rebuilding operation. However Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated he solely sought to maneuver the roughly 1.8 million Gazans briefly to permit for reconstruction.
Even that proposal has drawn criticism from Palestinians, who’re anxious they could by no means be allowed again in in the event that they flee, and from the Arab nations that Trump has referred to as on to take them in.
Rubio, on his first overseas journey as secretary of state, described Trump’s proposal as a “very generous” provide to assist with particles elimination and reconstruction of the enclave following 15 months of preventing between Israel and Hamas. Hamas has been designated as a terrorist group by america, Canada and the European Union.
Leavitt stated in a briefing with reporters in Washington that Gaza is “a demolition site” and referenced footage of the devastation.
“The president has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza,” she stated, calling it at present “an uninhabitable place for human beings” and saying it will be “evil to suggest that people should live in such dire conditions.”
Their feedback contradicted Trump, who stated Tuesday evening, “If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.” He added that he envisioned “long-term” U.S. possession of a redevelopment of the territory, which sits alongside the Mediterranean Sea.
Egypt, Jordan and different U.S. allies within the Mideast have cautioned Trump that relocating Palestinians from Gaza would threaten Mideast stability, danger increasing the battle and undermine a decades-long push by the U.S. and its allies for a two-state resolution.
Saudi Arabia’s overseas ministry issued a sharply worded response to Trump, noting its lengthy name for an impartial Palestinian state was a “firm, steadfast and unwavering position.” Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. over a deal to diplomatically acknowledge Israel in change for a safety pact and different phrases.
“The duty of the international community today is to work to alleviate the severe human suffering endured by the Palestinian people, who will remain committed to their land and will not budge from it,” the Saudi assertion stated.
Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican and a Trump ally, referred to as it “problematic.”
“The idea of Americans going in on the ground in Gaza is a non starter for every senator,” the South Carolina lawmaker informed reporters Wednesday. “So I would suggest we go back to what we’ve been trying to do which is destroy Hamas and find a way for the Arab world to take over Gaza and the West Bank, in a fashion that would lead to a Palestinian state that Israel can live with.”
Rubio insisted that Trump’s place “was not meant as a hostile move.”
“What he’s very generously has offered is the ability of the United States to go in and help with debris removal, help with munitions removal, help with reconstruction, the rebuilding homes and businesses and things of this nature so that then people can move back in,” Rubio stated.
Nonetheless, the White Home stated Trump was ruling out sending U.S. {dollars} to assist within the reconstruction of Gaza.
However Leavitt, like Trump, refused to rule out sending American troops into Gaza, saying of Trump, “he wants to preserve that leverage in negotiations.”
The Palestinians, Arab nations and others have rejected even a brief relocation from Gaza, which might run counter to many years of U.S. coverage calling for the creation of a Palestinian state with no additional displacement of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Financial institution.
The proposals additionally seem to trash months of negotiations by the Biden administration to draft a “day after” plan for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza. President Joe Biden had tried to lock in that plan — which requires joint governance of the territory by the Palestinian Authority underneath U.N. stewardship and a multi-national peacekeeping power — earlier than leaving workplace by inviting Trump’s foremost Mideast envoy into ultimate talks over a Gaza ceasefire.
Miller reported from Washington. AP author Farnoush Amiri contributed from Washington.
Initially Printed: February 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM EST
