US President Donald Trump says he wants the United States to "take over" and redevelop the Gaza strip.
The comments came as he hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
The meeting marked the first in-person visit by a foreign leader since Mr Trump returned to office two weeks ago, and an effort to turn the page on sometimes tense relations with former president Joe Biden.
Speaking at a joint press conference to a packed briefing room, the US president said Palestinians should be permanently relocated from Gaza and moved to different countries, saying Gaza was now a "demolition site" that no-one would want to live in.
Mr Trump said neighbouring countries "of great wealth" could fund the resettlement and people could be moved to either one large site or numerous sites.
Arab nations, including America's regional allies Jordan and Egypt, as well as Palestinian leaders, have vehemently rejected the idea.
When asked earlier today if this would amount to forced displacement, Mr Trump claimed Gazans would love the opportunity to move.
"We want to give people a chance at life. They have never had a chance at life because the Gaza Strip has been a hell hole for people living there," Mr Trump said.
The extraordinary proposal from Mr Trump is set to rock the Arab world, spark widespread condemnation and drastically reshape US foreign policy in the Middle East.
'The future Riviera of the Middle East'
Pressed for more details on a possible redevelopment, the president said he could see the US having "a long-term ownership position".
"I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East and maybe the entire Middle East," he said.
"Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent."
Mr Trump said he could envisage Gaza being redeveloped into "the future Riviera of the Middle East".
"We'll make sure that it's done world-class," he said.
"It will be wonderful for the people, Palestinians."
Mr Trump said he was confident that the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and other nations would "open their hearts and will give us the kind of land that we need to get this done ".
When asked if the United States would send troops into Gaza, Mr Trump said: "We'll do what's necessary."
"We're going to take over that piece, we're going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs and it'll be something the entire Middle East can be very proud of."
Mr Netanyahu thanked the US president for his unwavering support of Israel, including his decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and for brokering the Abraham Accords.
"You are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," Mr Netanyahu said.
"Now, in the first days of your second term, you picked up right where you left off your leadership to help bring our hostages home."
"Israel will end the war by winning the war. Israel's victory will be America's victory."
'Our homeland is our homeland'
The president's comments come as tens of thousands of Palestinians return to Gaza's north after 15 months of war that has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza officials, who have added thousands more missing and now presumed dead to the death toll.
The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are part of the occupied Palestinian territories that have been under Israeli military occupation since 1967.
Israel withdrew its forces from the area in 2005 but is still considered an occupying force due to its ongoing control of Gaza's borders, airspace and coastline.
Palestinians consider the Gaza Strip to be part of their ancestral homeland.
Israel says the territory is not occupied in legal terms because the land remains disputed.
The territory has been decimated due to relentless Israeli bombing — largely supplied by the United States — that erupted in response to the October 7 attacks by Hamas.
Speaking at a United Nations security council meeting, the Palestinian representative to the UN, Riyad Mansour, responded to Mr Trump's proposal.
"Our homeland is our homeland," he said, arguing Palestinians should have the choice to return to it regardless of how destroyed it was.
"I think that leaders and people should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people."
The US and Israeli leaders' meeting coincides with the start of mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas on the crucial second stage of the ceasefire deal and hostage release.
The second stage of the deal is hoped to pave the way to ending the war, with the release of all hostages and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
The region is at a critical juncture, with the Gaza truce fragile, a parallel Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement in Lebanon nearing possible expiration, and concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Prior to their meeting, Mr Trump signed a string of new orders, including a presidential memorandum meant to block Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon and to limit its oil exports.
He also signed a directive to stop US engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council and continue a halt to funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.
Trump to visit Gaza, Israel
Mr Trump also announced plans to visit both Gaza and Israel but did not indicate when the trip would happen.
Senior officials confirmed King Abdullah II of Jordan was expected to visit the US next week to meet with Mr Trump.
Later in the week, Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with US military leaders at the Pentagon and members of congress, having already met with senior US officials earlier this week.
US special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff also announced plans to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani in Florida on Thursday, local time.
The Gulf nation has served as an important mediator in the negotiations to secure a ceasefire and ensure the release of hostages.
"We'll be going over all these things with him … so we're all dug in," Mr Witkoff said.
with wires
