Donald Trump floats plan to ‘just clean out’ Gaza

May Be Interested In:Why the US is freezing as the planet reaches record warmth


Residents walk past the rubble of collapsed buildings along Saftawi St in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo / AFP

The vast majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, by the war that began with Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023.

Trump said moving Gaza’s inhabitants could be “temporarily or could be long term”.

“It’s literally a demolition site right now, almost everything is demolished and people are dying there,” added Trump.

“So I’d rather get involved with some of the Arab nations and build housing at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change.”

AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.

A fragile truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas – which was signed on the last day of former US President Joe Biden’s administration but which Trump has claimed credit for – has entered its second week.

Bomb shipment released

Trump’s new administration has promised “unwavering support” for Israel, without yet laying out details of its Middle East policy.

Trump confirmed at the weekend that he had ordered the Pentagon to release a shipment of 2000lb bombs for Israel which was blocked by his predecessor Biden.

“We released them. We released them today,” Trump said. “They paid for them and they’ve been waiting for them for a long time.”

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has left much of the Palestinian territory in ruins, with infrastructure destroyed. The United Nations estimates reconstruction will take many years.

In October during his presidential campaign, former real estate developer Trump said that war-torn Gaza could be “better than Monaco” if it was “rebuilt the right way”.

Trump’s son-in-law and former White House employee Jared Kushner suggested in February that Israel empty Gaza of civilians to unlock the potential of its “waterfront property”.

For Palestinians, any attempt to move them from Gaza would evoke dark historical memories of what the Arab world calls the “Nakba” or catastrophe – the mass displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s creation 75 years ago.

Israel has denied having any plans to force Gazans to move.

But some extreme-right members of the Israeli government have publicly supported the idea of Gazans leaving the Palestinian territory en masse.

AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.

– Agence France-Presse

share Share facebook pinterest whatsapp x print

Similar Content

Through 'The Loss Mother's Stone,' mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
Through ‘The Loss Mother’s Stone,’ mothers share their grief from losing a child to stillbirth
Labor argues ‘economic madness’ of Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost NSW $1.4tn
Labor argues ‘economic madness’ of Coalition’s nuclear plan would cost NSW $1.4tn
Greek police arrest 3 accused of faking and selling at auction scores of artworks
Greek police arrest 3 accused of faking and selling at auction scores of artworks
Australia...s Nick Kyrgios reacts after a point against France...s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard during their men...s singles match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane on December 31, 2024. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --
Nick Kyrgios loses on singles return at Brisbane International ahead of Australian Open
PowerSchool data breach has hit at least 80 Canadian school boards - National | Globalnews.ca
PowerSchool data breach has hit at least 80 Canadian school boards – National | Globalnews.ca
Ken Martin wins race for chair of Democratic National Committee
Ken Martin wins race for chair of Democratic National Committee
Your Daily Digest: Essential Global Updates | © 2025 | Daily News