‘Make Gaza freedom zone’: Donald Trump floats taking over enclave

Speaking to business leaders in Doha, the US President repeats his plan for the US to ‘get involved’ in Gaza, saying he has ‘very good concepts’ for the Strip.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip on Thursday. Picture: AP /Jehad Alshrafi

Terrorist organisation Hamas has warned Gaza was not “for sale” hours after Donald Trump again floated taking over the territory and turning it into “a freedom zone”.

The US president, who is on a tour of Arab monarchies in the Gulf region, said his administration was “working very hard on Gaza,” which he described as “a territory of death and destruction for many years.”

Speaking at a meeting of business leaders in Doha, he repeated his proposal to “make it a freedom zone,” and “let the United States get involved,” in his first remarks on his plans to control Gaza in front of Arab leaders.

The president’s meaning was not immediately clear although in the past he has talked of the US taking over Gaza to make it into a Riviera.

“We’re working very hard in Gaza. Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction,” he added.

“I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good. Make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone,” he said.

“I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone, let some good things happen.”

Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official, responded in a statement saying Gaza was “not real estate for sale on the open market”.

In a separate interview with Sky News, Mr Naim confirmed the militant group was in direct talks with the United States over peace in Gaza.

Aid to Gaza has been cut off since March 2, a tactic Israel has said is intended to force concessions from Hamas, but Mr Naim insisted on Thursday that the restoration of humanitarian assistance to the war-ravaged territory was “the minimum requirement” for any ceasefire and hostage deal talks.

“Access to food, water, and medicine is a fundamental human right — not a subject for negotiation,” he added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks to the media following an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Turkey. Picture: Umit Bektas / POOL / AFP

Israel’s aid blockade preceded a resumption of military operations on March 18, ending a ceasefire that had largely halted hostilities since mid-January.

For weeks, UN agencies have warned that supplies of everything from food and clean water to fuel and medicines are reaching new lows.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced openness Thursday to any new ideas to bring aid into Gaza after a US- and Israeli-backed plan was sharply criticised, expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in the territory.

A new US-backed foundation on Wednesday announced a plan to begin distributing aid later this month in Gaza, where Israel has cut off food and other humanitarian supplies for more than two months.

“We’re troubled by the humanitarian situation there,” Mr Rubio told reporters after warnings of famine in war-ravaged Gaza.

“I hear criticisms of that plan. We’re open to an alternative if someone has a better one.

“We are for all the aid we can get without Hamas being able to steal it from people.”

People look for salvageable items in the rubble of a building hit in an Israeli strike in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Thursday. Picture: AFP

Mr Rubio, who is in Turkey, also said he spoke about the situation in Gaza in a telephone call on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Mr Trump tours Arab monarchies in the Gulf region.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed a new offensive to wipe out Hamas, which sparked the war in Gaza with the deadliest attack against Israel in its history on October 7, 2023.

Mr Rubio said the United States shared Mr Netanyahu’s desire to eliminate the Palestinian militant group.

“I think all of us would love to see an enduring end to this conflict, which, by the way, would end immediately if Hamas were to surrender,” Mr Rubio said.

“As long as they exist and they’re around, you’re not going to have peace.”

West Bank raids

In the occupied West Bank, meanwhile, raids were ongoing and roads blocked after Israel’s military chief vowed to find the perpetrators of an attack that killed a pregnant Israeli woman.

WhatsApp groups for Israeli settlers in the territory were rife with calls for vengeance in retaliation for the attack.

“To make sure this never happens again … we need real revenge!” one user said. In the northern village of Tammun, Israeli troops killed five Palestinians in a raid the military described as targeting buildings suspected of being used to plan attacks.

The West Bank has seen an upsurge in violence since the beginning of the Gaza war.\

AFP, AP