10
Loading video...
By Monica Sager and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
During Wednesday afternoon's press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump was "not committed" to sending United States troops to the Gaza Strip.
Why It Matters
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Tuesday at the White House. The meeting carries significant geopolitical weight as Trump and Netanyahu discuss the future of a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza, potential normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, and strategies to counter Iran's nuclear ambitions. Netanyahu is under pressure from hard-right coalition members to resume hostilities, while Trump, who has taken credit for brokering the ceasefire, aims to see it hold.
Read More on U.S.
...
What To Know
Leavitt was asked several questions regarding Trump's remarks regarding the U.S. "take over" of war-torn Gaza.
Leavitt said Wednesday in response to a question about Trump's remarks, "The president has not committed to boots on the ground in Gaza...the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza. This is an out-of-the-box idea...his goal is lasting peace in the Middle East for all people in the region."
On Tuesday, Trump suggested a plan for the U.S. to "take over" control of Gaza and relocate its Palestinian residents to nearby countries like Egypt and Jordan. The president made those remarks during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
The president framed his proposal as a redevelopment project, saying that Gaza could become "the Riviera of the Middle East," while also describing the territory as a "demolition site."
...
The statement has also been met with widespread rejection from world leaders who denounced it as a violation of international law. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri also rejected Trump's comments, warning of potential "chaos."
At the press conference on Wednesday, Leavitt suggested that the proposal does not require Trump and the country to be "entangled in conflicts abroad."
Later in the day, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that the "definition of insanity is attempting to do the same thing over and over and over again" when asked about his opinion on Gaza.
"As the President and Prime Minister pointed out last night, the President is willing to think outside of the box, look for new and unique dynamic ways to solve problems that have felt like they're intractable," Hegseth said. "We look forward to more conversations about that, creative solutions to that."
Hegseth added he and his team are "prepared to look at all options."
What People Are Saying
Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) in a statement to Newsweek Tuesday night: "A two-state solution, which Democratic and Republican administrations have supported for decades, must continue to be U.S. policy. Palestinians, including those in Gaza, deserve a chance at a better future, one where they can live with dignity and security. Israelis and Palestinians each deserve distinct, inalienable, and mutually-recognized states that coexist side-by-side in peace."
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA), in a statement to Newsweek Tuesday night: "Jewish Americans overwhelmingly reject and disapprove of Donald Trump because his policies and rhetoric are antithetical to our values. Tonight's press conference with Prime Minister Netanyahu was no exception. The notion that the United States is going to 'take over' Gaza, including with the deployment of U.S. troops, isn't just extreme -- it's completely detached from reality. In what world is this happening? Not the one we inhabit. Netanyahu praised his 'out of the box' thinking, but let's be honest -- it's insane."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in a statement on Tuesday: "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States, and President Trump's call to expel Palestinians from their land is an absolute non-starter. If the Palestinian people were ever somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity would spark widespread conflict, put the final nail in the coffin of international law, and destroy what remains of our nation's international image and standing."
What's Next
Negotiations over the next stage of the ceasefire are set to continue, with Israel confirming it will send a delegation to Qatar for indirect talks with Hamas.
Update: 2/5/25, 2:05 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines