During a recent Oval Office meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump engaged with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein (left) as they discussed potential U.S. ownership of Gaza.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump talks with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein in the Oval Office regarding the United States taking a controlling role over Gaza.

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

The Gaza Strip, a focal point in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, spans an area roughly twice that of Washington, D.C. It boasts about 25 miles of coastline along the Mediterranean Sea, supporting a population of approximately 2 million residents.

Recently, President Trump suggested relocating Gazans to neighboring nations such as Egypt and Jordan.

Trump has indicated that the Palestinians would not be permitted to return, and international observers, including UN officials, have warned that this plan could be seen as ethnic cleansing. Despite significant domestic and global scrutiny regarding U.S. expansionist policies, Trump remains steadfast in asserting that the U.S. should “own” Gaza.

While Trump claims that the U.S. intends to assume control of Gaza, he has not provided detailed specifics on what this entails. What implications could this proposal have for Palestinians and the wider Middle Eastern region?

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This episode was produced by Mia Venkat, with edits by Courtney Dorning, James Hider, and Nadia Lancy. Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.