U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States take control of the Gaza Strip and turn it into a “freedom zone.”
During a meeting in Doha, Qatar, Trump stated that the U.S. should play a key role in rebuilding the devastated enclave, which has suffered severe destruction since the war began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel.
“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good. Make it a freedom zone,” Trump said. “Let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone.”
Reaffirming his idea, Trump added: “I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone,” although he did not provide specifics on how such a plan would be implemented.
Trump has previously suggested relocating Gaza’s nearly two million residents and transforming the region into a resort destination. He even shared AI-generated videos depicting himself at a fictional “future Gaza Riviera.”
He argued that Gaza is now uninhabitable, referencing satellite images and reports indicating that approximately 70% of the region’s infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged.
“It’s not like you’re trying to save something. There’s no building,” Trump stated. “People are living under the rubble of buildings that collapsed, which is not acceptable.”
While the Israeli government has shown interest in Trump’s vision, the proposal has faced strong opposition from Arab nations and Middle Eastern allies, who have rejected the idea of resettling displaced Palestinians. Many Palestinians have also refused to abandon their homeland, though some, weary from war, have expressed openness to relocation.
The future of Gaza remains uncertain, as cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have stalled following the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander earlier this week.
