Synopsis
Senior officials in the Trump administration have sought to clarify the President's comments about the US potentially taking control of the Gaza Strip. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the generous nature of the offer to assist in rebuilding, while clarifying that details would need international collaboration.Key Takeaways
- Trump's comments about Gaza control stirred international concern.
- Rubio emphasized the need for cleanup and safety for residents.
- Temporary relocation of Gazans proposed during reconstruction.
- Leavitt clarified that no military deployment is confirmed.
- Details of the proposal require collaboration with partner nations.
Washington, Feb 6 (NationPress) Senior officials from the Donald Trump administration have attempted to clarify the President's statements regarding the US potentially "taking control" of the Gaza Strip and establishing a "long-term ownership position" there.
"The only thing President Trump has done, very generously, in my view, is offer the United States' willingness to step in, clear the debris, clean the place up from all the destruction that's on the ground, clean it up of all these unexploded munitions," stated US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a news conference in Guatemala City, alongside Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo.
Rubio emphasized, "In the meantime, the people living there, the people who call that home will not be able to live there while you have crews coming in and removing debris, while you have munitions being removed, etc."
He recognized that the specifics of the proposal, which alarmed the international community and faced opposition from several Arab nations and US allies in Europe, "would have to be worked out among multiple partner nations."
"Seriously, it was not meant as a hostile move," Rubio remarked.
"It was intended as a generous gesture, the offer to oversee the rebuilding of a place where many parts remain unsafe for residents due to unexploded munitions and debris."
Rubio did not clarify whether Palestinians, who would be relocated as suggested by Trump during the reconstruction efforts in Gaza, would eventually be permitted to return to their homeland, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
During a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when asked if the US would deploy troops to Gaza to address a "security vacuum," Trump stated: "If it's necessary, we'll do that."
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt attempted to temper media expectations regarding a US military presence in Gaza, repeatedly stressing during Wednesday's press briefing that "the President has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza."
On the subject of Trump not dismissing the possibility of sending US troops to Gaza, Leavitt explained: "The President is very astute in negotiations, not ruling out any options to maintain leverage."
Leavitt further clarified that Trump's vision was for Gazans to be "temporarily relocated out of Gaza" during the rebuilding process.
However, this explanation appeared to contrast with Trump's own comments made during Tuesday's press conference.
"I hope that we can do something where (Gazans) wouldn't want to go back -- who would want to go back?" Trump expressed.
