Live: Hamas official says Trump’s remarks about taking over Gaza are ‘ridiculous and absurd’

Trump vows to take over Gaza and create ‘Riviera of the Middle East’

President Donald Trump said the US would take over war-ravaged Gaza and create a “Riviera of the Middle East” after resettling Palestinians elsewhere, shattering decades of U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and drawing regional condemnation.

The shock move drew swift condemnation from regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia which Trump hopes will establish ties with Israel.

Speaker of the US House of Representatives praises Trump’s plan for Gaza

US House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, praised Trump’s remarks as taking a “bold action in hopes of achieving lasting peace in Gaza.”

“We are hopeful this brings much needed stability and security to the region,” he wrote on X.

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy calls Trump plan on Gaza a ‘sick joke’

In a post on X, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said of Trumps Gaza plan: “He’s totally lost it. A US invasion of Gaza would lead to the slaughter of thousands of US troops and decades of war in the Middle East. It’s like a bad, sick joke.”

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen calls Trump plan to remove Gazans ‘ethnic cleansing’

US Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen said that US President Donald Trump’s proposal “to push 2 million Palestinians out of Gaza and take ‘ownership’ by force, if necessary, is simply ethnic cleansing by another name.

“This declaration will give ammunition to Iran and other adversaries while undermining our Arab partners in the region.

“It defies decades of bipartisan American support for a two-state solution. …. Congress must stand up to this dangerous and reckless scheme.”

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejects Trump Gaza plan

“Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year. The Australian government supports on a bipartisan basis a two-state solution.”

Saudi Arabia, in swift response to Trump, says no ties with Israel without Palestinian state

Saudi Arabia said it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, contradicting President Donald Trump’s claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland when he said the US wants to take over the Gaza Strip.

In a shocking announcement, Trump said on Tuesday the United States would take over the war-ravaged enclave after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere and develop it economically. He was speaking at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that its stance towards the Palestinians is not negotiable.

US top diplomat Rubio backs Trump plan on US takeover of Gaza

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio late on Tuesday appeared to back President Donald Trump’s plan for a US takeover of Gaza, saying the Palestinian enclave must be free from Islamist group Hamas.

Trump on Tuesday proposed a US takeover of Gaza where Israel’s military assault in the last 16 months has killed tens of thousands, after he earlier suggested that Palestinians in the enclave should be permanently displaced. The idea was condemned by experts and rights advocates.

Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians, foreign ministry says

Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia said it would not establish ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, contradicting US President Donald Trump’s claim that Riyadh was not demanding a Palestinian homeland when he said the US wants to take over the Gaza Strip. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom’s position in ‘a clear and explicit manner’ that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances, the statement said.

• President Donald Trump said the US would take over control of the Gaza Strip and own it “long term”, after earlier suggesting that displaced Palestinians could be resettled elsewhere.
• Trump made his shock announcement at a joint news conference with Israel’s Binyamin Netanyahu, who praised the US president for “thinking outside the box”.
• The Palestinian ambassador to the UN said Gaza was “part of Palestine”, while Hamas called Trump’s plan “ridiculous and absurd”.

Hamas official says Trump’s remarks about taking over Gaza are ‘ridiculous and absurd’

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks about taking over the Gaza Strip are ‘ridiculous’ and ‘absurd’.

“Trump’s remarks about his desire to control Gaza are ridiculous and absurd, and any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region,” Abu Zuhri told Reuters.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage on the Middle East.