Trump Floats U.S. Control of Gaza, and Other Headlines of the Day

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Top of the Agenda

Trump said the United States would “take over” Gaza last night. In what would be a shocking break from decades of U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the president further suggested that the nearly two-million-strong population of Palestinians in Gaza be permanently removed to other countries, and refused to rule out deploying U.S. troops. The comments came amid a White House visit from Netanyahu that was slated to focus on a cease-fire deal in the territory. Earlier in the day, Trump said the United States would continue the Joe Biden administration’s policy of withholding funding for the UN agency that provides aid to Palestinian refugees.

Trump defended his new proposal on the grounds that much of the territory has been destroyed in the current war. But it flew against the stances of Palestinians and many U.S. Arab allies, and international law prohibits attempts to forcibly transfer populations. 

Global reactions. Comments on Trump’s proposal quickly poured in, with far-right Israeli politicians among the few to celebrate it. 

• Netanyahu said the idea was “worth paying attention to,” and Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, praised Trump for his “out of the box ideas” on Gaza, saying that the enclave “in its current form has no future.”

• The Palestinian Authority rejected “all calls for displacement of Palestinian people from their homeland,” a senior advisor to its president said.

• Saudi Arabia’s support of the “establishment of a Palestinian state is firm and unwavering,” the foreign ministry said, adding that the country rejects “any infringement on the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

• Mideast nations such as Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey condemned Trump’s remarks. 

• Countries farther afield, ranging from China to France to the United Kingdom, said they still backed a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

• Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said: “We’ll see what our Arab friends say about that. I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. It might be problematic.”

• A Hamas spokesperson called the proposal “a recipe for creating chaos and tension” in the Middle East.                     

Cease-fire in limbo. Stakeholders to the long-sought cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas are weighing its potential second phase. The first phase—in which Hamas would release thirty-three hostages in exchange for more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners—is only partway complete, with thirteen hostages freed so far. A previously released outline of stage two includes a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the swap of Hamas’s remaining hostages for more prisoners.

Some in Netanyahu’s coalition have urged him to reject any permanent halt to Israeli fighting in Gaza, but the technical steps toward negotiating the next truce phase continue to move forward. Israel said it will send a delegation to Doha in the coming days, and Trump’s envoy is meeting with Qatar’s prime minister tomorrow. However, Trump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza presents a new tension point in those talks. 

"What [Trump] is calling for in Gaza would not solve the Palestinian problem in Gaza but it would trigger crises in Jordan, Egypt, [and] the West Bank. It would also get the U.S. bogged down in the Middle East when we ought to be focusing on the Indo-Pacific. Not too late to rethink," CFR President Emeritus Richard N. Haass posted.

Across the Globe

USAID staff placed on leave. The agency’s worldwide staff—with few exceptions—will be placed on administrative leave Friday night and will soon return to the United States, a notice posted on its site said. Earlier this week, Trump appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio interim administrator of the agency; Rubio told lawmakers it could be downsized or eliminated. A Monday report from the Congressional Research Service said congressional approval is required to abolish or consolidate the agency.

Mixed signals on Iran. Trump yesterday ordered the U.S. Department of Treasury to prepare “maximum pressure” economic sanctions on Iran but added, “I hope that [the order]’s not going to have to be used.” Later, he said “I would love to be able to make a great deal” with Iran to improve bilateral relations; however, Tehran “cannot have a nuclear weapon.” 

Scrutiny of EU-Rwanda minerals deal. Sixty-four nongovernmental organizations—most from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—yesterday joined calls for the European Union (EU) to cancel a critical minerals pact with Rwanda over Kigali’s backing of a rebel group. The February 2024 deal facilitates EU access to metals and rare earth elements. Beyond objections to M23 violence, multiple UN reports say Rwanda also uses the rebels to extract minerals from within the DRC. Some EU member states such as Belgium have already called to end the agreement.

Funds for Haiti mission frozen. The United States until now has been the largest contributor to a UN-endorsed multilateral security mission in Haiti. Led by Kenyan troops, it aims to help Haitian police regain control of gang-run areas. Amid a wider halt on foreign aid under the Trump administration, Washington froze $13.3 million of unspent money for Haiti in a mission trust fund, a UN spokesperson said yesterday. 

Thai leader in China. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Chinese President Xi Jinping are due to discuss economic ties as well as Chinese concerns about human trafficking on the Thailand-Myanmar border. In January, a Chinese actor traveling in the region was abducted and forced to work in a telephone scam center. Chinese and Thai law enforcement agencies have carried out joint operations in the area. 

Migrants flown to Guantánamo Bay. A U.S. military flight brought nine to ten migrants to be detained at the U.S. base, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. A small number of undocumented migrants have already been held in a facility there. It is unclear whether the detainees will have access to legal representation. 

From NATO chief to finance czar. One of Norway’s top hands in trying to avert potential trade tensions with Trump will be the recently-departed head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. Stoltenberg served as Norway’s prime minister before running the international military alliance for a decade. From his experience at NATO during Trump’s first term, he said Norway’s ticket to avoiding tariffs is engagement.

A Look Ahead

• The Indian territory of Delhi holds legislative elections.

• California Governor Gavin Newsom is due to meet with Trump administration officials regarding wildfire recovery.

• U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio holds meetings in the Dominican Republic.