DOHA — On Thursday (May 15), former U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his controversial proposal for the Gaza Strip, telling a business forum in Qatar that he envisions turning the region into a "freedom zone" under U.S. control, arguing that the area is already too devastated to be salvaged. Trump first floated the idea in February, proposing to redevelop Gaza and relocate its population — a plan that sparked international backlash. Palestinians, Arab governments, and the United Nations condemned it as a form of ethnic cleansing.

Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, most now internally displaced by Israel’s ongoing military campaign, have suffered massive losses, with nearly 53,000 reported killed and large parts of the territory destroyed since Israel launched its offensive in response to the October 2023 Hamas attack. In his remarks in Qatar — a nation that has long hosted Hamas’ political leadership — Trump said, “I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good: Make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved.” He referred to recent aerial images showing widespread destruction, saying, “It’s not like you’re trying to save something… People are living under collapsed buildings, which is not acceptable.”

He added, “I’d be proud to have the United States take it, make it a freedom zone. Let some good things happen.” Trump has also previously said he wanted to turn Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East." Palestinians have strongly rejected any plan that involves relocating them from Gaza, comparing it to the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were displaced during the creation of Israel. Many say they would prefer to remain in the ruins of their homes than be forced to leave.

In response to Trump’s comments, Hamas official Basem Naim acknowledged that the former president “has the influence” to help end the conflict and support a Palestinian state, but stressed that “Gaza is not real estate for sale — it is an inseparable part of Palestinian land.” If the U.S. were to take control of Gaza, it would mark a major escalation in its role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict — potentially its largest involvement in the Middle East since the Iraq war in 2003, a move many Americans would view with skepticism.

Israel’s current military campaign began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on southern Israeli communities, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken, according to Israeli reports. Just this month, Israel approved broader plans to escalate operations in Gaza, possibly including direct control over the Strip and managing aid. On Thursday alone, Israeli strikes reportedly killed at least 70 Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised Trump’s proposal as “a bold vision” and confirmed discussions with the former president about which countries might accept Palestinians who leave Gaza.