One of the worst real estate deals ever made: Trump on Gaza

US President Donald Trump on Monday called the Gaza Strip “one of the worst real estate deals ever made.” He criticised how Gaza was formed, saying Israel gave up valuable “oceanfront property.”

“The Gaza strip. I call it the Gaza strip. One of the worst real estate deals ever made. They gave up the oceanfront property. One of the worst deals ever made,” he said.

He made these comments during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trump also said that Israel might hand over control of Gaza to the United States in the future.

A day earlier, Trump said he hoped talks for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would be resolved soon. He told reporters, “We are talking and hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week.”

The US has been backing a 60-day ceasefire plan. This plan includes a gradual release of hostages, Israeli troops pulling back from parts of Gaza, and peace talks to end the fighting.

TRUMP ENVISIONS GAZA AS A RESORT

For several months, Trump has suggested turning Gaza into a resort area like the “Middle Eastern Riviera.” He said US officials could lead efforts to rebuild the area. Trump’s Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, may be involved in the planning.

“There could be something fairly soon to talk about,” Trump said, hinting that he may soon present detailed ideas for Gaza’s future. He has talked before about building luxury hotels and tourist attractions in the war-damaged region.

However, no official plan has been shared yet. The Gaza Strip is currently suffering from a terrible conflict. Since the war began in October 2023, tens of thousands of people have died or been injured.

The conflict started on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel. They killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages into Gaza. Officials believe around 20 of those hostages are still alive.

Israel’s response has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in Gaza. Nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced.

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With inputs from Reuters