Hamas swiftly rejected President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza, calling it “ridiculous” and “absurd.”
Trump’s controversial plan, announced Tuesday in a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, outlined a U.S.-led redevelopment of Gaza, with the forced resettlement of Palestinians to other countries and a vision to transform the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The proposal marks a sharp break from traditional U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and has been met with widespread condemnation across the region.
Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri, speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, warned that the proposal could destabilize the Middle East.
“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,” Zuhri stated.
Trump had framed the proposal as an opportunity for economic transformation, telling reporters:
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and do a job with it too… We’ll develop it, create thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something the entire Middle East can be proud of.”
However, the plan provided few specifics beyond its real estate-driven vision and suggested permanent displacement of Gaza’s more than two million Palestinians.
The proposal has also drawn sharp criticism from Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally, which firmly rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians.
The Saudi Foreign Ministry reaffirmed the kingdom’s commitment to the creation of a Palestinian state, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman making it clear that there is “no room for alternative interpretations.”
Riyadh also refuted Trump’s claim that Saudi Arabia was not demanding a Palestinian homeland, stating that any potential normalization of ties with Israel remains contingent on Palestinian statehood.
This stance complicates ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to broker a Saudi-Israeli agreement, which Israel sees as a major geopolitical goal due to the kingdom’s influence in the Middle East.
However, Trump’s dramatic proposal threatens to further inflame tensions, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile region deeply divided over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.