Members of Congress from both parties were stunned late Tuesday after President Trump announced plans for the US to “take over the Gaza Strip,” with lawmakers expressing skepticism about the unprecedented call for direct intervention in the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Elder Republican statesmen in particular criticized Trump’s desire to “see a long-term ownership position” in the region, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) telling NBC News the proposal was “problematic at many, many levels.”
“We’ll see what the Arab world says,” he added.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) suggested to the outlet that there were still “a few kinks in that slinky.”
“Obviously it’s not going to happen,” Tillis said. “I don’t know under what circumstance it would make sense, even for Israel. Now, if Israel is asking for the United States to come in and provide some assistance to ensure that Hamas can never do again what they did, I’m in. But us taking over seems like a bit of a stretch.”
Trump even floated the involvement of US forces in the “dismantling” of “all the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons” held by Hamas as well as the reconstruction of the obliterated territory to “create thousands and thousands of jobs.”
“I envision world people living there. The world’s people. I think you’ll make that into an international, unbelievable place,” the president declared, openly dreaming of creating “The Riviera of the Middle East.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), a firm defender of Trump’s “America First” agenda, told Jewish Insider in response: “I don’t know that I think it’s the best use of United States resources to spend a bunch of money in Gaza.”
“It’s a provocative part of the conversation, but it’s part of the conversation, and that’s where we are,” conceded Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), one of the most prominent pro-Israel voices in Congress.
Others, mostly on the House Republican side, were ecstatic at the idea, though several senior foreign policy leaders on Capitol Hill had yet to comment on the proposal as of Wednesday morning.
“The United States stands firmly with Israel and the people of the Middle East, which haven’t experienced peace in many, many years. Violence and hatred do not have to define the region’s future,” declared House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.).
“Today, President Trump took bold action in hopes of achieving lasting peace in Gaza. We are hopeful this brings much needed stability and security to the region,” he added.
“Let’s turn Gaza into Mar-A-Lago,” erupted Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
“President Trump will never stop working to ensure historic and lasting PEACE!” said National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu all but endorsed the idea, saying: “I think it’s something that could change history and it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.”
Netanyahu, who stood alongside Trump, 78, during a press conference at the White House when the announcement was made, said it was “something that could change history and it’s worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.”
“[Trump] sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so many attacks against us, so many trials and so many tribulations,” Netanyahu added.
Meanwhile, Democrats tore into the commander in chief over the announcement, with Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) saying it had left him “speechless.”
“That’s insane. I can’t think of a place on Earth that would welcome American troops less and where any positive outcome is less likely,” Coons erupted to NBC News.
“I don’t think it’s something that’s in America’s best interest,” Senate Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) also told the outlet.
Trump claimed that he “spoke to other leaders of countries in the Middle East and they love the idea” — but several Arab nations immediately rejected it.
The foreign ministry of Saudi Arabia declared Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had a “firm and unwavering” commitment to the existence of a Palestinian state along boundary lines set before the Six-Day War in 1967.
Egyptian and Jordanian leaders had already thrown cold water on Trump’s request that they take in displaced Palestinians from Gazan.
Early Wednesday, Cairo’s foreign minister declined to comment directly on the US president’s proposal while still calling for the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, adding that the Palestinian Authority should be involved.
Trump did not discuss a timeline for the US presence, as Israel continues to negotiate with Hamas to release the last of the hostages held by the terror group in Gaza amid a 42 day cease-fire.
