Staff Reports
Donald Trump once again proved he is not one to shy away from bold proclamations, especially during his press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With a confidence reminiscent of a magician revealing a show-stopping trick, he tossed aside decades of failed foreign policy in the Middle East. The past, it seems, has taught the former president that merely repeating the same mistakes is a fool’s endeavor. Trump made it clear: old policies are dead, and the U.S. will take a completely different approach, starting with a radical idea—ownership of Gaza.
The headline-stealing declaration from the press conference was that Hamas would no longer have a hold on Gaza, as the U.S. would now “own” it. This concept might rattle some cages, but Trump reiterated that the status quo was no longer acceptable. He also laid out a plan to relocate 1.7 million Palestinians to neighboring Egypt and Jordan. Apparently, there’s a little unspoken agreement here: since the past methods have flopped harder than a fish out of water, why not send the folks who have suffered from these failed policies somewhere else?
According to Trump, Hamas has turned Gaza into a breeding ground for violence and despair, leaving little hope for the Palestinian people. Instead of despair, he envisions Gaza as the “Riviera of the Middle East,” a tourist hotspot bustling with international visitors. It’s a great idea, of course, assuming you can ignore the little detail that Hamas might not be thrilled with their eviction notice and the concept of “renovating” their turf isn’t typically received well by armed groups.
The former president was non-committal on the two-state solution, a favored talking point of the political establishment. He thinks it’s time to think beyond that, and who could blame him? After all, it seems like every time a “two-state solution” is proposed, it devolves into a game of Risk where the pieces just don’t seem to get along. Instead, Trump’s plan emphasizes that the historical policies have failed miserably—they will not return for an encore.
It’s worth noting that while some media outlets might deride Trump’s plans as insane, it’s hard not to laugh at the irony of their perspective. The traditional narrative around the Oslo Accords, established back in 1993, has neatly pigeonholed into a series of failures. Those accords were supposed to create peace but ended up being more like a sitcom that went on for way too long without a laugh track. In reality, one must consider that giving more power to a group historically connected to violence might not equate to tranquillity.
BREAKING: Trump Refuses to Repeat Failed Policies, Says U.S. Will ‘Own’ Gazahttps://t.co/Zeraq5PU5X
— PJ Media (@PJMedia_com) February 5, 2025
It’s time, Trump emphasizes, to challenge the status quo entirely. The idea that Gaza should be governed by those who have historically contributed to its challenges is ripe for a refresh. Egyptian and Jordanian integration would make sense given that these nations are home to a similar cultural backdrop. Humanitarian efforts should focus on freeing the area from extremism and allowing it to breathe once again—rather than trying to build love through lessons in democracy to people who have shown more affinity for stones and rockets than civility.
Of course, the road to implementing such a fresh perspective is filled with challenges and significant skepticism, especially from those who’ve benefited from the old narratives. But with his latest press conference, Trump is signaling that change is not just desirable but necessary. While it may take some courageous steps to reach this new oasis in the desert, it’s clear that the tired strategies of the past are no longer an option.
