Trump to host Netanyahu in first foreign leader visit of second term – BBC.com
Donald Trump insists “everybody loves” his proposal to have the US take a “long-term ownership position” of Gaza to turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”- read the president’s full quotes hereSecretary of State Marco Rubio says Trump’s “generous offer” to help clean up Gaza shouldn’t be viewed as a “hostile move”The Palestinian Authority says Palestinians won’t be resettled, while people in Gaza tell the BBC “this is our land”Some key US allies have also rejected the suggestion – the UK says Palestinians should “live and prosper in their homelands”, Egypt says Gaza should be redeveloped without its people leaving, while Saudi Arabia “rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians”The White House hasn’t ruled out the forcible transfer of Palestinians from GazaIs any of this serious? With Trump, it’s hard to tell, writes our correspondent Paul AdamsThis video can not be playedWatch: ‘I don’t think people should go back there’ – Trump’s plan for Gazans after warEdited by Caitlin Wilson in Washington and Matt Spivey in LondonWyre DaviesReporting from JerusalemA moment ago, I touched on Israeli reaction to Trump’s comments on Gaza yesterday, which Palestinian leaders and
neighbouring Arab countries have dismissed the idea out of hand.While they
have often been, with some justification, accused of not always standing up for the national rights of Palestinians, Trump’s idea that hundreds of
thousands of people could be forcibly moved or encourage to leave Gaza is a red
line in the sand.The dream of a future
Palestinian state is still important to many in the Middle East, especially
young people who’ve been angered by images of death and destruction coming from
Gaza. The leaders of Jordan, Egypt and beyond also know that hundreds of
thousands of mainly Sunni Arabs arriving over their borders could easily upset
the demographics in what is an unstable and volatile region.That’s not to say on a
couple of points, at least, Trump is right; that Gaza resembles a
“demolition site” with more than 60% of its buildings destroyed or badly
damaged by one of the biggest bombing and shelling campaigns in military
history. Also, if there is no long-term solution to the Gaza “question”, then
it’s almost inevitable – say observers and reporters who’ve witnessed several
conflicts there in recent decades – that we’ll be back in the same scenario in
four or five years’ time.Wyre DaviesReporting from JerusalemMost Israeli reaction to
Donald Trump’s outlandish plan for Gaza has been incredulity and disbelief. Few
people seriously think that when the war in Gaza eventually ends, the next
stage will develop in a way anything like that set out by the US president. What many Israelis, who’ve been buoyed by the sight of hostages
being released under the ceasefire deal, are concerned about is that Trump’s
intervention may throw a spanner in the works of the ceasefire progressing to a
second stage.That is apart from a
minority but vocal group of politicians on the far-right of Israeli politics. Itamar Ben Gvir who left Benjamin’s Netanyahu’s cabinet in protest over the
Gaza ceasefire said, on social media, “Donald, this looks like the beginning of
a beautiful friendship.” The former minister, who remains influential, has
previously suggested that Palestinians should be “encouraged” to leave Gaza,
called upon Netanyahu to adopt the Trump proposals as official Israeli
government policy.Our colleagues over at BBC Verify have taken a look at whether Trump can act on his comments yesterday that “the US will took over the Gaza strip”.Watch their analysis below:This video can not be playedMadeline HalpertUS ReporterTrump’s proposal to “take over” Gaza and displace Palestinians has alarmed many Arab and Muslim Americans. That goes for community leaders in Dearborn, Michigan, the largest Arab American-majority city in the US. In the former Democratic stronghold, Trump received 42% of the vote in the 2024 election – as many cast protest votes over the former-president Jo Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza. Abbas Alawieh, who founded the Uncommitted movement – a group protesting US support of Israel – says people who listened to Trump’s pledge for “peace in the Middle East” during his campaign are likely feeling betrayed by his most recent comments. Alawieh, who voted for Kamala Harris, says Trump’s plan is “reckless, delusional” and “criminal”. “It would lead to immense human suffering,” he tells the BBC. Rexhinaldo Nazarko, the executive director of the American Muslim Engagement and Empowerment Network in Dearborn, says Trump’s comments were “an attempt to justify ethnic cleansing”. “Forcing an entire population out of their homeland is a war crime, a moral catastrophe, and a direct violation of international law,” he says. “If President Trump is serious about peace in the Middle East, he needs to make it clear right now that he does not support the forced displacement of Palestinians.” Jeremy BowenInternational EditorThe plan, as expressed by Donald Trump, is not going to happen. It requires the co-operation of Arab states that have rejected it.They include Jordan and Egypt – countries that Trump wants to take in Gaza’s Palestinians – and Saudi Arabia, which might be expected to foot the bill.Western allies of the US and Israel are also against the idea.Some – perhaps many – Palestinians in Gaza might be tempted to get out if they had the chance.But even if a million left, as many as 1.2m others would still be there.Presumably the United States – the new owners of Trump’s “Riviera of the Middle East” – would have to use force to remove them.After America’s catastrophic intervention in Iraq in 2003, that would be deeply unpopular in the US.Jeremy Bowen’s analysis continues here.Yesterday’s meeting with Donald Trump may have been Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s biggest agenda item while in the US, but his schedule has featured meetings with various officials. This afternoon he met with Vice President JD Vance, external and national security advisor Mike Waltz.And in a few minutes, at around 15:00 EST (20:00 GMT), Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will host an honour cordon – welcoming Netanyahu to the Pentagon. Netanyahu also previously met with Trump’s Middle East convoy Steve Witkoff. Throughout the day we have been hearing from defiant Palestinians who have reacted to Donald Trump’s comments on the US taking over Gaza.Our colleagues at BBC Arabic spoke to one woman who said: “We will live and die in our homeland, the land of Gaza.” Others have insisted Palestinians are “deeply rooted in their land”. This video can not be playedThe European Union has also reacted to Trump’s plans, repeating its stance that the bloc is “firmly committed” to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.In a statement, an EU foreign policy spokesman says Gaza should be an “integral part of a future Palestinian state”.”We took note of President Trump’s comments. The EU remains
firmly committed to a two-state solution, which we believe is
the only path to long-term peace for both Israelis and
Palestinians,” he added. Matt SpiveyLive page editorWe’ve just been listening across a White House briefing from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and a news conference from Marco Rubio – running simultaneously.Trump’s comments on the US “taking over” Gaza remained a big topic for both Rubio and Leavitt.During a grilling from members of the press, Leavitt failed to give a definitive answer on whether American troops will become involved in Gaza, but says Trump has “not committed to putting boots on the ground”.BBC’s US State Department correspondent Tom Bateman asked whether Palestinians who wish to stay in Gaza will be able to, but the questions was dodged by Leavitt. He writes that “the question could have allowed the White House to rule out forcible transfer for Palestinians, but in this answer, it did not”.Meanwhile, Rubio – speaking at a news conference with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo – reiterated that parts of Gaza has been rendered unliveable, a message that we have also heard from Trump.He adds that Trump’s “generous offer” to help Palestinians was “not meant as a hostile move”.We’ll continue to bring you the latest updates, reaction and analysis as Trump’s comments continue to make shockwaves across the international community. Stay with us. We have some more now from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who says Trump’s proposal yesterday was actually a “generous offer” to help clean up Gaza, making it sound optional. “It was not meant as a hostile move,” he says. “What President Trump announced yesterday is the offer, the willingness, of the United States to become responsible for the reconstruction of that area,” Rubio says.This video can not be playedWatch: Trump offering to rebuild Gaza is a ‘generous move’ – Marco RubioWhilst we’ve been hearing from White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also been speaking at a news conference. He was asked about Trump’s position on Gaza, while in attendance at the conference with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo. He was asked how the Trump administration is planning to carry out the proposals, and how they hope to accomplish the rebuild plan. Rubio begins by saying that Trump’s announcement yesterday acknowledged that Gaza is “severely damaged” with some areas “rendered unliveable”. He called the announcement an “offer” for the US to become responsible for the reconstruction. Tom BatemanBBC News, reporting from the White HouseHere in the White House briefing room, I just asked the spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt to clarify whether, under the president’s proposed plan for Gaza, any and all Palestinians who wish to stay on their land in Gaza will be able to do so. She wouldn’t confirm that and swerved the issue, saying instead Trump was committed to “rebuilding Gaza and to temporarily relocating those who are there”. She repeated the argument that Gaza was a “demolition site” with no water or electricity, and that Trump “wants these individuals to live in peace”. The question could have allowed the White House to rule out forcible transfer for Palestinians, but in this answer, it did not.Leavitt is asked about Trumps’ comments on the US owning Gaza – she’s asked who owns Gaza now and how the US would acquire it.Leavitt says Gaza is currently run by Hamas, and says everyone agrees that situation can “no longer stand”, citing the October 6 attack on Israel. Trump is committed to “rebuilding the region for all people who want to return to it once it is no longer a demolition site” and is somewhere where people can “thrive in harmony”, she says.She adds: “I think it’s actually quite evil to suggest that people should live in such dire conditions.”With that, the White House briefing has come to an end. Karoline Leavitt is asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was aware of Donald Trump’s plans.”Yes he was,” Leavitt replies. “This is something the president has been socialising and thinking about for a long time.”The BBC’s State Department correspondent, Tom Bateman, asks if any and all Palestinians that want to stay in Gaza will be allowed to stay. Leavitt says Trump is committed to rebuilding Gaza and temporarily relocating those who are there because the area is a “demolition site”, and adds that the president “wants these individuals to live in peace”.This video can not be playedWatch: BBC’s Tom Bateman asks White House if Palestinians can stay in GazaBernd Debusmann JrReporting from the White HouseMuch of the news conference has focused on the possibility of US troops being deployed to Gaza – which Leavitt repeatedly forces to say that the Trump has “not committed” to any such decision.As we reported, Trump has left that option on the table, saying only that he would do what is “necessary”.Leavitt has framed this as a negotiation tactic – and has repeatedly praised his history of negotiations, both at the White House and as a businessman.”The President is very good when he’s making deals and negotiating not to rule out anything because he wants to preserve that leverage,” she said.One possibility is that Trump – like many US politicians before him, of both political parties – does not want to be boxed into a corner by saying what is, or isn’t, considered a workable scenario.Leavitt is pushed on Trump’s remarks he made earlier in the Oval Office, when he said “everybody loved” his plan.A reporter cites Jordan’s former deputy prime minister, Mamdouh al-Abadi, who called the president’s remarks “a declaration of war on the Arab people”.She replies saying that Jordan’s King Abdullah will be in Washington next week.”There have been a lot officials around the world who have doubted the deal-making ability of President Trump,” Leavitt answers as she says some leaders have made concessions – citing Colombia recently yielding on US deportation flights to avert trade war.”Actions speak louder than words,” she adds.It’s put to Leavitt that the US’s partners in the region, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, have voiced opposition to Trump’s idea for resettling Palestinians.She says that Trump has been thinking about this for quite some time and it’s not an “announcement he makes lightly”. Leavitt says Trump has been vocal that he expects the US’s partners in the region, particularly Egypt and Jordan, to accept Palestinian refugees temporarily “so that we can rebuild their home”. She shows images that demonstrate the damage done to Gaza and says Trump “made this decision with a humanitarian heart for all people in the region”. Leavitt is pushed further on the plans, she’s asked if the US is prepared to remove Palestinians from the territory by force? Trump’s press secretary repeats the point that the president is “ready to rebuild Gaza for Palestinians and all peace-loving people in the region”.Asked how he intends to do this, Leavitt says Trump is speaking to allies and “figuring that out”.As we just reported, questions have turned focus onto Trump’s comments about Gaza. Leavitt is asked how Trump’s proposals for Gaza align with the America First policy – which centres on focusing on domestic policy, and is against involvement in foreign wars. “Trump has not committed to putting boots on the ground,” she says adding this “does not mean American taxpayers will be funding soldiers”.When pressed by reporters, she did not rule out US boots on the ground but repeated that Trump has not “committed”.Watch her remarks below:This video can not be playedWatch: Trump ‘not committed’ to boots on the ground in Gaza, says White HouseCopyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
