Donald Trump has suggested the US will "take over" the Gaza Strip and move Palestinian people elsewhere, during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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Key Events
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Saudi Arabia rejects moving Palestinian people out of Gaza
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What just happened in that press conference?
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Trump suggests Gaza could become the 'Riviera of the Middle East'
Questions about US authority to take over Gaza
At his press conference, Trump did not directly respond to a question of how and under what authority the US can take over Gaza and occupy it in the long term.
"I do see a long-term ownership position and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East," he said, adding that he had spoken to regional leaders and they supported the idea.
"I've studied this very closely over a lot of months."
(Reuters: Leah Millis)
Trump said he would visit Gaza but did not specify when.
The president said he would support resettling Palestinians "permanently", going beyond his previous suggestions that Arab leaders had already steadfastly rejected.
Forced displacement of Gaza's population would likely be a violation of international law, Reuters reports, and would be fiercely opposed not only in the region but also by Washington's Western allies.
Trump offered no specifics on how a resettlement process could be implemented but his proposal echoed the wishes of Israel's far right and contradicted former President Joe Biden's commitment against mass displacement of Palestinians.
Reporting by Reuters
Analysis: Trump risks 'long-term conflict'
Trump's stance on "taking over" Gaza and moving the Palestinian people out is a "political earthquake" the ABC's global affairs editor John Lyons says.
"An American president has just overturned 50-60 years of bipartisan, accepted policy in the US, European Union and Australia for a two-state solution."
"It was extraordinary.
"He's basically saying that the United States will unilaterally seize one of the most sensitive parts of the Middle East and just take it over.
"If this goes ahead, I think it locks the US and Israel into long-term conflict with the Arab world."
Saudi Arabia rejects moving Palestinian people out of Gaza
The Saudi Arabian government, a major US ally and regional power in the Middle East, has released a very strong statement following Trump's press conference, stating a few "non-negotiables" on the status of Gaza.
- It rejects any attempts to displace Palestinian people from their land.
- It will not establish formal relations with Israel without the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
- The support of such a state is "firm and unwavering" and is not be interpreted otherwise.
Reporting with Reuters
Senate confirms Pam Bondi as attorney-general
(Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
The Republican-led Senate has confirmed Pam Bondi as the new US attorney-general.
The vote in favour has propelled one of Trump's staunchest allies to the top perch of American law enforcement.
Bondi vowed to maintain the Department of Justice's independence during a confirmation hearing last month.
But politicians continue to harbour concerns about whether she will resist potentially improper or illegal orders from Trump.
Democratic senator John Fetterman joined all 53 Republicans in voting for Bondi.Â
Reporting with Reuters
What just happened in that press conference?
If you're just joining us, here's a summary of what was covered in Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu's extraordinary press conference.
- The president said the US would "take over" the Gaza Strip and "own it" as part of the final ceasefire process.
- As part of this, he repeatedly suggested the Palestinian people should move to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan to "live in comfort and peace" after he called Gaza a "hellhole".
- Netanyahu seemed to support these comments, saying "Israel will end the war by winning the war" and calling Trump Israel's "greatest friend".
- Trump did not answer whether he still supported the two-state solution, but seemed to suggest the proposal was dead and reiterated his desire to move Palestinians elsewhere.
- He also did not rule out sending US troops to Gaza, saying "we will do what's necessary".
- At the end of the conference, Trump suggested Gaza could become the "Riviera of the Middle East" after the US takes control of the occupied territory.
'Palestine is not for sale,' protesters chant outside
As word from the press conference filters through to protesters, the chanting has now shifted to target President Trump.Â
The crowd is now shouting, "Donald Trump go home to jail, Palestine is not for sale".
The temperature has dropped here in DC; it is 4 degrees Celsius but feels like 0.
(ABC News: Kamin Gock)
The protesters seem unaffected by the cold though and are chanting loudly with group organisers using megaphones and banging drums.
Meanwhile, a man dressed up as an "ICE" (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officer and wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat has come to the protest and caused a scene.
Protestors and the man engaged in verbal barbs briefly before police officers formed a barrier with their bikes to try and defuse the situation.
Protesters cite Netanyahu's ICC arrest warrant
Outside the White House, there are now a few hundred people, many with placards.
The drums are also out and there has been a chorus of chants for the last hour or so.
(ABC News: Kamin Gock)
Many of the chants have been directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as protestors shouted, "Say it loud and say it clear, Bibi you’re not welcome here".
"Netanyahu why you here? The ICC was crystal clear."
The protesters have stopped marching now, and have gathered at the side of Lafayette Square.
So far it’s a peaceful protest with police cordoning off the road where the march is taking place.
(ABC News: Kamin Gock)
I spoke with political activist Medea Benjamin who said Trump’s suggestion that the people of Gaza should relocate to Jordan and Egypt is a "slap in the face to people who have suffered for decades".
Trump, Netanyahu wrap press conference
(Reuters: Leah Millis)
Trump and Netanyahu have finished taking questions at their joint press conference in the White House.
They will now attend a dinner in the State Dining Room.
Trump suggests Gaza could become the 'Riviera of the Middle East'
Donald Trump has again been asked for more information on his proposal for the US to take control of Gaza.
He says he envisions "the world's people" living in Gaza once it's rebuilt.
"I think you'll make that into an international, unbelievable place," he said.
"I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable. And I think the entire world, representatives from all over the world, will be there, and they'll live there, Palestinians also, Palestinians will live there."
The president went onto argue that "you have to learn from history".
(Reuters: Leah Millis)
"We have an opportunity to do something that could be phenomenal," he said.
"And I don't want to be cute, I don't want to be a wise guy, but the 'Riviera of the Middle East', this could be something that could could be so magnificent.
"But more importantly than that, is the people that have been absolutely destroyed, that live there now, can live in peace, in a much better situation, because they're living in hell."
Trump flags 'very constructive' talks on Ukraine war
Trump has been asked about his plans to address the war in Ukraine.
He says there are "very constructive talks" happening with both Russia and Ukraine.
"I want to see it stopped," he says.
"We're having very good talks and … I think something will be, hopefully dramatically, it will rise above everything.
"You can't let this continue, this is an absolute slaughter that has taken place on the beautiful farmlands of Ukraine and we have to stop it, we can't let this continue. It is a human tragedy and we will try very hard to stop it."
Where does this leave the two-state solution?
A reporter asks where this leaves the two-state solution, long touted as the final goal of Israeli-Palestinian relations in establishing a Palestinian state side by side with Israel.
"It does not mean anything about a two-state or a one-state or any other state," Trump says.
"It means that we want to have people to have a chance at life.
"They've never had a chance at life because the Gaza Strip has been a hellhole for people living there."
He again indirectly references moving Palestinians elsewhere, outside of Gaza.
US to get 'more violent' if all hostages not released, Trump says
Trump is asked about the hostages being released slowly by Hamas under the phased ceasefire deal and suggests the US and Israel would respond violently if all aren't returned home according to the terms of the agreement.
"We would like to get all the hostages and if we don't, it will just make us somewhat more violent, I will tell you that, because they would have broken their word."
Trump pushed on what a US 'take over' of Gaza would mean
Donald Trump has been asked for more detail on what his plan for the US to "take over" Gaza would involve.
The president says he sees it as a "long term ownership position" that could bring "great stability" to the Middle East.
(Reuters: Leah Mills)
"This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent."
Benjamin Netanyahu told the press conference that it was a proposal that could "change history".
(Reuters: Leah Mills)
"[Trump] sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism, so many attacks against us, so many trials and so many tribulations," he said.
"He has a different idea. And I think it's worth paying attention to this. We're talking about it. He's exploring it with his people, with his staff.
"I think it's something that could change history, and it's worthwhile really pursuing this avenue."
Trump 'doesn't know' if ceasefire will hold
Trump is asked whether he thinks the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will hold given the fragile peace in Gaza.
"We weren't helped very much by the Biden administration, I can tell you that," he says, referencing Joe Biden's negotiators.
"We have got quite a few hostages out. We are dealing with complex people and we're going see whether or not, we certainly want to have more come out.
"We hope to get as many as possible out, whether or not it holds, I don't know, we hope that it holds," he says.
Would the US send troops into Gaza?
When asked if the United States would send troops into Gaza, Donald Trump said "we'll do what's necessary".
"If it's necessary, we'll do that," he said.
"We're going to takeover that piece, we're going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it'll be something the entire Middle East can be very proud of.
"There will be jobs for everyone, not for a specific group of people, but for everyone."
Netanyahu: 'Israel will end the war by winning the war'
 Netanyahu says Israel has to "finish the job" in Gaza to secure peace.
He says Trump's "willingness to puncture conventional thinking" will help "reshape the Middle East".
"Mr President, ladies and gentlemen, Israel will end the war by winning the war. Israel's victory will be America's victory.Â
"We will not only win the war — working together will win the peace."
(Reuters: Leah Millis)
Israeli PM says 'we defeated some of America's worst enemies'
Netanyahu is running through the events of October 7, 2023, and its aftermath, and Israel's targeting of Hamas leaders such as Yahya Sinwar and Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah.
"We defeated some of America's worst enemies," he says, and continues to argue that Hamas has been defeated.
(Reuters: Leah Millis)
Netanyahu: Trump is 'the greatest friend' Israel has had in the White House
Netanyahu has opened his speech by praising Trump's record on Israel.
"I've said this before, and I'll say it again: you are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.Â
"That's why the people of Israel have such enormous respect for you."
The United States will 'take over' the Gaza strip, Trump says
Donald Trump has just told the press conference that the United States will "take over the Gaza Strip".
"We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site," he said.
"Level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.
"Do a real job, do something different. Just can't go back. If you go back, it's going to end up the same way it has for 100 years."
Trump had earlier reiterated his argument that Palestinians in Gaza should move to neighbouring countries.
"This could be paid for by neighbouring countries of great wealth. It could be one, two, three, four, five, seven, eight, 12, it could be numerous sites, or it could be one large site.
"But the people will be able to live in comfort and peace, and we'll make sure something really spectacular is done."
Gaza is a 'demolition site'
Trump continues to talk about moving Palestinians out of Gaza, saying they can live in "peace and harmony" instead of in the rubble of the destroyed strip.
"It's right now a demolition site. Virtually every building is down, they're living under fallen concrete that's very dangerous and very precarious."
