‘Level it’: Trump says US will ‘take over’ Gaza strip and rebuild it to stabilize Middle East
The U.S. will “take over the Gaza strip,” degree it and rebuild the realm, President Donald Trump stated throughout a press convention Tuesday night after assembly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too,” Trump stated Tuesday night in a joint press convention with Netanyahu. “We’ll own it, and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous, unexplored bombs and other weapons on the site.”
“Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different. Just can’t go back. If you go back, it’s going to end up the same way it has for 100 years.”
Netanyahu is the primary world chief to satisfy with Trump on the White House underneath his second administration.
When requested about taking up the Gaza Strip, Trump stated he might see the U.S. in a “long term ownership position” of the piece of land, which might probably deliver stability to the Middle East.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, left, and US President Donald Trump throughout a information convention within the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. Trump insisted Egypt and Jordan will soak up Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, dismissing the international locations’ refusal to just accept individuals from the war-shattered territory. Photographer: Ting Shen/Bloomberg by way of Getty Images (Getty Images)
“I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East. And everybody I’ve spoken to — this was not a decision made lightly — everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land. Developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know. Nobody can look because all they see is death and destruction and rubble,” Trump stated.
The pair mentioned the present ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and its future, Iran’s grip on the Middle East and resettling Gaza residents in different nations.
“In our meetings today, the prime minister and I focused on the future, discussing how we can work together to ensure Hamas is eliminated and ultimately restore peace to a very troubled region. It’s been troubled, but what’s happened in the last four years has not been good,” Trump stated through the press convention.
Trump stated that the Gaza Strip has grow to be “a symbol of death and destruction for so many decades and so bad for the people anywhere near it.”
“It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there,” he added.
Netanyahu lauded Trump’s tenacity and talent “to think outside the box” throughout his feedback to the press.
“Your willingness to puncture conventional thinking, thinking that has failed time and time and time again, your willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas, will help us achieve all these goals,” he stated. “And I’ve seen you do this many times. You cut to the chase. You see things others refuse to see. You say things others refuse to say, you know. And after the jaws drop, people scratch their heads and they say, you know, he’s right.”
The Israeli chief continued that his nation’s victory may also be a win for America.
“Israel’s victory will be America’s victory,” Netanyahu stated. “We will not only win the war working together, we will win the peace. With your leadership, Mr. President, and our partnership, I believe that we will forge a brilliant future for our region and bring our great alliance to even greater heights.”