Trump on Gaza: The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do the job, it is not a place where people can live

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump reiterated his idea of relocating Gaza residents to other countries during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, saying: "I don't think people (Palestinians, op.a.) should go back to Gaza."

During their meeting in the Oval Office, Trump said that Gaza is now completely destroyed and not a suitable place to live, adding that he thinks Jordan and Egypt will receive Palestinians from Gaza.

Netanyahu is the first foreign leader Trump has hosted since taking office on January 20.

Trump claimed that both he and Netanyahu want peace in the Middle East and that resolving the crisis in Gaza is key to achieving that goal.

"It is not a place where people can live"

Trump said that Palestinians are returning to Gaza because they have no other option, but reiterated that the area is not suitable for living.

"They are only returning because they have no alternative. That's why I don't think people should go back to Gaza."

He emphasized that talks are underway with Egypt and Jordan about the possibility of building new areas for displaced Palestinians:

"If they had an alternative, they wouldn't go back to Gaza. They would rather choose a safe and nice place to live. The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will also do the job with it. We will own it and we will be responsible for dismantling all dangerous unexploded ordnance and other weapons on site. If necessary, we will do it, we will take over that part, we will develop it, open thousands and thousands of jobs, and it will be something the entire Middle East can be very proud of," Trump said.

Describing Gaza as an area in ruins, filled with bombs and insecurity, Trump added: "Gaza has been an unfortunate place for them. They have lived like in hell."

He reiterated that Gaza is very dangerous:

"How do you get people to go back there? You tell them to go back, but only death awaits them there. The best way is to allow them to leave and build nice, open places with enough sun and modern buildings. Then they won't want to go back to Gaza".

Trump once again said that life in Gaza is impossible.

"We can build new settlements with the help of huge funds that would be provided by rich countries. It could be Jordan, Egypt, or some other country. We can build four, five, or six settlements, it doesn't have to be just one. These would be places where they could live, because Gaza guarantees them only death," he said.

Commenting on the ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, when asked who was more effective in achieving it, Joe Biden or Donald Trump, replied: "President Trump."

Netanyahu stated that one of the goals of achieving peace in Gaza is the return of all hostages held by Hamas.

"I support the return of all hostages and the fulfillment of all our war aims, including the destruction of Hamas's military and governing capabilities and ensuring that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel," Netanyahu said.

Meanwhile, a group of people gathered near the White House to protest the meeting between Trump and Netanyahu.

The first phase of a six-week ceasefire came into effect in Gaza on January 19, halting an Israeli war that killed more than 47,500 people and left the enclave in ruins, with massive displacement of the civilian population and acute shortages of basic necessities.