US President Donald Trump appears to have moderated his earlier, more aggressive plan to take control of war-torn Gaza and relocate its more than two million residents to neighboring countries. In an interview on Friday with Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Trump conceded that leaders in Jordan and Egypt had rejected his proposal.
“I was a little surprised they’d say that, but they did,” he said, noting that the United States is already providing “billions of dollars a year” in aid to those nations.
Earlier this month, Trump had sparked shock when he unveiled a plan in which Washington would assume control of Gaza and spearhead its reconstruction, while pressuring Egypt and Jordan to accommodate the displaced Palestinians. However, in his latest remarks, the Republican president clarified that he is not forcing his plan on anyone. “The way to do it is my plan. I think that’s a plan that really works, but I’m not forcing it. I’m just gonna sit back and recommend it,” he explained.
Trump’s comments come on the heels of a meeting in Riyadh on Friday, where Arab leaders convened to develop a proposal for Gaza’s post-war reconstruction, clearly intended to counter his controversial plan.
