Trump Suggests US Won’t Oppose Israeli Takeover of Gaza

News Desk

Washington/Gaza: US President Donald Trump has signaled that the decision to fully occupy Gaza lies with Israel, prompting concerns amid ongoing devastation in the Palestinian enclave.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said his primary concern is ensuring food reaches Gaza’s starving population but declined to address Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reported plans for a long-term occupation of the territory.

“As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say. That’s going to be pretty much up to Israel,” Trump said.

His remarks have sparked alarm, as Israel’s war on Gaza which began in October 2023 has already displaced millions and devastated much of the strip.

Mounting Fears of Humanitarian Catastrophe

UN officials have warned that any Israeli attempt to reoccupy Gaza would likely worsen an already dire humanitarian crisis.

“A full occupation of Gaza would risk catastrophic consequences,” said Miroslav Jenca, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia, and the Americas, during a recent Security Council briefing.

He emphasized that Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state in line with international law.

Renewed Settlement Rhetoric

Although Israel dismantled its settlements and withdrew ground troops from Gaza in 2005, rights groups and legal experts have long described the territory as under de facto occupation, citing Israel’s control over Gaza’s borders, airspace, and coastline.

Since the war erupted in October 2023, several far-right Israeli leaders have called for reestablishing settlements and a permanent military presence in Gaza — moves considered illegal under international law.

Netanyahu has also floated proposals seen by critics as calls for ethnic cleansing, including the removal of Gaza’s Palestinian population. In February, Trump appeared to endorse such thinking, suggesting Gaza could be transformed into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Staggering Death Toll, Rising Hunger

More than 61,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israel’s ongoing military operations, with large swaths of Gaza reduced to rubble. Food insecurity is widespread, with growing reports of civilians being shot while attempting to reach humanitarian aid.

Despite global outcry, the US has continued its military support to Israel, with aid reportedly increasing since the conflict began. At the same time, humanitarian relief efforts by international agencies have faced severe access restrictions.

On Tuesday, Trump claimed the US had provided $60 million in food aid to Gaza and praised Israel’s role in its distribution. However, humanitarian groups have challenged this portrayal, pointing to frequent targeting and blockage of aid convoys.