President Donald Trump stunned the world when he said the United States would “take over” the Gaza Strip. On Thursday morning, he clarified his plan just a bit, but left many questions lingering. Trump first floated the idea during a joint press briefing with Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, reportedly catching his Israeli counterpart off guard, according to Axios. Since then, the Trump team has sought to clarify aspects of the plan, particularly in response to criticism that it implies forced displacement of Gaza’s Palestinian population.

In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump suggested that Israel would transfer control of Gaza to the United States after military operations conclude.

“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” Trump wrote. “The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region. They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!”

While Trump’s post projects an optimistic vision of stability, it raises major questions. A central one is how the U.S. would claim legal or political authority over Gaza. Trump’s assertion that the territory would simply be “turned over” by Israel has drawn skepticism, as it ignores the complexities of international law, regional politics, and Palestinian sovereignty. Additionally, no Middle Eastern country has indicated willingness to absorb millions of displaced Palestinians, making the feasibility of mass resettlement highly uncertain.

Trump’s remarks also highlight a contradiction in his foreign policy stance. While he has frequently positioned himself as opposed to U.S. military interventions abroad, his proposal for American control of Gaza—however undefined—would mark an unprecedented level of direct involvement in Middle Eastern affairs.

Some argue that the proposal could be little more than a high-stakes negotiating tactic rather than a concrete plan. However, by publicly detailing his vision, Trump has amplified questions about what role the United States should play in the region’s future and how his foreign policy approach may evolve.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)