US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced his support on Tuesday for President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the United States to “take over” the Gaza Strip. “Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas,” Rubio posted on X, adding that the US “stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again.” He framed the move as a step toward achieving lasting peace in the region.
Rubio’s endorsement followed Trump’s statement during a press conference with Netanyahu, where the president declared that the US “will take over the Gaza Strip” and oversee reconstruction efforts. Trump outlined plans to clear unexploded bombs, demolish damaged buildings, and develop the area to create jobs and housing. Earlier, in a meeting with Netanyahu at the Oval Office, Trump suggested that Jordan and Egypt should take in Palestinians from Gaza, claiming the enclave was uninhabitable.
Jordan, Egypt, and other regional nations strongly rejected Trump’s proposal, while the Palestinian Authority and Hamas condemned the remarks as an attempt to displace Palestinians from their homeland. The Palestinian Presidency issued a statement denouncing any measures that threaten the territorial integrity of the Palestinian territories. Under international law, forced displacement without justification is classified as a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
