Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu Joint Press Conference (February 4, 2025)

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu Common Press Meeting is a press conference held on 4 February 2025 in the United States (USA) by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was organized within the framework of current conditions in the Gaza Strip and generated significant international public attention due particularly to Trump’s proposal that the United States take over Gaza and rebuild the region.

The press conference included statements regarding the future of Gaza following the conflicts there. Trump indicated that the United States could assume provisional ownership of Gaza and undertake its reconstruction, while Netanyahu emphasized that for Israel’s security, all “threats” in Gaza must be eliminated. The United Nations (UN), human rights organizations, and various states criticized Trump’s proposal and stated that it must be evaluated within the framework of international law. The Palestinian leadership and Arab countries argued that the statements constituted an attempt to alter the demographic and political structure of the region and condemned them. The meeting was interpreted as a departure from the United States’ traditional policy on the Palestinian-Israeli issue and regarded as a significant development in terms of global diplomatic balances.

Content of the Press Conference

Trump’s Statements

U.S. President Donald Trump stated during the press conference that the United States must take over the Gaza Strip and assume long-term ownership of the region to rebuild it. Trump indicated that the United States could provide the necessary responsibility to rehabilitate Gaza after the current destruction and suggested that projects promoting economic development could be implemented there.

Trump argued that Palestinians in Gaza should be relocated to other countries, asserting that the region is currently uninhabitable under existing conditions. He claimed that directing Palestinians toward neighbor countries would allow them to “lead a better life” and stated that this process would be beneficial for Palestinians.

U.S. President Trump suggested that Gaza could be transformed into the “Riviera of the Middle East” and proposed that the region could be developed by international investors and rebuilt as a tourism hub. Trump argued that large-scale economic projects must be developed to restructure Gaza and that this could contribute to regional peace.

Trump stated that the United States could maintain a military entity in Gaza and that deploying American troops could serve as a option to ensure security. He indicated that the United States could conduct military intervention if necessary to eliminate security threats in Gaza.

Netanyahu’s Statements

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated during the press conference that Israel must “finish the job” in Gaza and emphasized that the complete elimination of existing threats in the region is essential for Israel’s security. Netanyahu asserted that Gaza must not remain a permanent threat to Israel and that Israel would act accordingly to ensure this.

Regarding Trump’s proposal for the United States to take over Gaza, Netanyahu described it as a “dignified value” and suggested that the proposal could have “historical significance.” The Israeli Prime Minister noted that Trump was approaching the issue from a different perspective and that this could initiate a new region process for the region.

Netanyahu advocated for the complete elimination of Hamas and the assurance of Israel’s long-term security, stating that the objective of Israel’s military operations in Gaza is precisely this. He clarified that Israel aims to fully none Hamas’s military capacity and governing authority and declared that no threat against Israel would be permitted to emerge from Gaza.

International Reactions

Reactions from Palestine

Hamas officials responded critically to Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and relocate Palestinians from the region. Hamas leaders characterized these statements as a “exile call” and warned that they would further destabilize the region. PLO Secretary-General Hussein al-Sheikh declared that all calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people were rejected. Palestinian State President Mahmoud Abbas emphasized that Trump’s statements violated international law and affirmed that Gaza is an inseparable part of Palestine.

Reactions from the International Community

Saudi Arabia firmly rejected Trump’s statements and declared that diplomatic relations with Israel would not normalize until a Palestinian state is established. Turkey’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan assessed these remarks as “unacceptable” and announced that Turkey would review its policies toward Israel. Egypt and Jordan administrations opposed the forced displacement of Palestinians and warned that it would further destabilize the region.

Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized Israel’s attempts to expand its control over the West Strip and stated that collective punishment policies against the Palestinian people are unacceptable. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared its opposition to the forced displacement of Gaza’s population and called on all parties to remain committed to a ceasefire. Germany Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock affirmed that Gaza belongs to Palestine and that forced migration violates international law.

Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that his country supports a two-state solution but would not make direct comments on Trump’s statements. G7 countries, the Europe Union, and United Nations officials emphasized that the people of Gaza must not be forcibly displaced.

Reactions within the United States

Trump’s statements generated widespread反响 within the United States. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy strongly criticized Trump’s proposal, warning that it could drag the United States into a prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen stated that these remarks amounted to “ethnic cleansing.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) emphasized that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and declared that forced displacement constitutes a crime against humanity. Demonstrators gathered in front of the White House in Washington, DC, demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel and protested against Trump and Netanyahu.

Legal Dimension

Donald Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and remove Palestinians from the region has been assessed under international law as constituting violations of sovereignty, forced displacement, and war crimes. Under international law, Gaza is recognized as part of Palestinian territory, and the United States’ purported “ownership” and long-term control of the area are interpreted as an act of occupation. Trump’s statements regarding the necessity of Palestinians leaving Gaza have opened the door to allegations of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing and have been deemed legally problematic by the international community. Trump’s proposal contradicts the two-state solution principle long supported by the UN and the international community. The United States’ unilateral takeover of Gaza has been criticized as potentially violating internationally recognized Palestinian rights.