By Jeff Mason
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he is committed to buying and owning Gaza, but could allow sections of the land to be rebuilt by other states in the Middle East.
“I'm committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it, other people may do it, through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back.”
Trump made his remarks to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to New Orleans to attend the Super Bowl.
"There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished. Everything’s demolished,” he said.
Trump also said that he was open to the possibility of allowing some Palestinian refugees into the United States, but would consider such requests on a case-by-case basis.
Shortly after being sworn-in for a second presidential term on January 20, Trump floated the idea of the United States taking over Gaza and engaging in a massive rebuilding effort.
His statement was vague on the future of Palestinians who had endured over a year of bombardment by Israel in response to an October 2023 attack by Hamas.
It was unclear under what authority the United States would take claim of Gaza. Trump's announcement drew immediate rebukes from several nations.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog said Trump was set to meet with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and possibly Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although he gave no dates for the talks.
The comments, delivered in an interview with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo, came in response to a question about Trump's recently unveiled proposal to take over and redevelop the Gaza Strip.
Herzog did not say when or where the meetings would take place, nor did he discuss their potential content. He also noted that Trump is due to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah in the coming days, which Jordan's state news agency has already reported.
"President Trump is due to meet with major, major Arab leaders, first and foremost the king of Jordan and the president of Egypt and I think also the crown prince of Saudi Arabia as well," Herzog said.
"These are partners that must be listened to, they must be discussed with. We have to honor their feelings as well and see how we build a plan that is sustainable for the future," Herzog said.
Saudi Arabia has flatly rejected Trump's Gaza plan, as have many world leaders. Jordan's King Abdullah plans to tell Trump during their planned February 11 meeting in Washington that the proposal is a recipe for radicalism that will spread chaos through the Middle East and jeopardize the kingdom's peace with Israel, Reuters reported earlier this week.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. It was not immediately possible to contact officials in Cairo and Riyadh.