White House appears to walk back Trump’s shock Gaza plan

The White House on Wednesday appeared to walk back elements of US President Donald Trump’s shock plan to remove Palestinians from Gaza and launch a US takeover of the devastated territory.

A day after Trump said “the US will take over” and “own” Gaza and that Palestinians would “go to other countries”, the administration sought to downplay expectations.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Republican leader wanted Palestinians to be only “temporarily relocated” out of Gaza instead of permanently resettled in Arab-majority states like Egypt.

She also said the rebuilding of Gaza would not be paid for by the United States and that US troops were not likely to be sent.

“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in this rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region for all people,” she said.

However, “that does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza, it does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort”.

  

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