Global Research - February 05, 2025
Trump Goes All-In on Stealing Gaza for His Zionist Owners
By Caitlin Johnstone
Grinning like the cat that ate the canary, Hague fugitive Benjamin Netanyahu sat beside Donald Trump as the US president unequivocally told the press on Tuesday that the plan for Gaza is to permanently remove all Palestinians from the enclave.
“I don’t think people should be going back to Gaza,” Trump said. “I think that Gaza has been very unlucky for them. They’ve lived like hell.”
Asked for clarification on whether the Palestinians would have a right to return to Gaza after its reconstruction, Trump said the plan is to build them housing in other countries that’s so nice they won’t want to return.
“It would be my hope that we could do something really nice, really good, where they wouldn’t want to return,” Trump said, adding, “I hope that we could do something where they wouldn’t want to go back. Who would want to go back? They’ve experienced nothing but death and destruction.”
Asked how many people he was talking about removing, Trump replied, “All of them.”
Shortly thereafter, the president announced that the US would soon “take over” and “own” Gaza and oversee construction projects there.
President Trump and Peace in the Middle East
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, 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.”
Given what Trump previously said about permanently removing all Palestinians from Gaza, there is no question who he is talking about when he says he wants to provide housing for “the people of the area”. He is talking about a very straightforward ethnic cleansing operation, driven by the United States.
Trump clarified that when he said the US would “own” the Gaza Strip, he did not misspeak. “Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land,” he told the press.
Trump reiterated his previously stated position that the people of Gaza could be relocated to Jordan or Egypt or “other countries”. Of course the possibility of Palestinians living anywhere else in their historic homeland has not been mentioned, because that’s not how ethnic cleansing works. The agenda is to remove an undesirable population from the land so that they can be replaced with a desirable one; allowing Palestinians from Gaza to live in Israeli territory or the West Bank during reconstruction would defeat the purpose of Israel’s actions since October 2023.
Trump repeatedly spoke of how devastated, dangerous and uninhabitable Gaza is, making it sound like the area was hit by an unfortunate natural disaster and not a deliberate and methodical operation to make the enclave unlivable. This ethnic cleansing plan is being presented as a humanitarian solution to tragic circumstances, when in reality the US and Israel destroyed Gaza on purpose with the goal of advancing the exact agenda they are working to advance today.
This move is sure to be aggressively resisted, both internally by Hamas and by neighboring powers, even if the Trump administration can find nations willing to facilitate its ethnic cleansing plans. This means we can expect significantly more violence and killing in the region if this agenda moves forward.
And it should here be mentioned that Donald Trump has publicly admitted to being bought and owned by Zionist oligarchs. The president openly acknowledged on the campaign trail that the first time he was president, mega-donors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson were at the White House “probably almost more than anybody” demanding favors for Israel like moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and acknowledging Israel’s illegitimate claim to the Golan Heights, which he eagerly granted. Miriam Adelson, who is Israeli-American, gave the Trump campaign $100 million last year.
And that’s the price of entry if you want to become president of the United States. You have to make alliances with oligarchs and empire managers who want very ugly things for our world, and you have to be the sort of person who is sufficiently dead inside to make such Faustian bargains. That’s why US presidents are so consistently evil; if they weren’t, they’d never make it anywhere near the presidency.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/trump-all-in-stealing-gaza-zionist-owners/5879138
Al Mayadeen – February 5, 2025
Palestinian officials, factions reject, condemn Trump Gaza plot
Hamas officials and Palestinian leaders strongly reject Trump’s Gaza takeover proposal, emphasizing Palestinians' right to remain in Gaza and their commitment to self-determination.
Palestinian officials and factions have rejected and denounced US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about a potential US takeover of Gaza, calling them a reflection of "ignorance" and an "unwavering alignment" with Israeli interests.
This comes shortly after Trump pushed for Washignton's "takeover" of the Gaza Strip, during a joint news conference held with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it. And be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on this site," Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly suggested that Egypt and Jordan take in Palestinian refugees from Gaza, referring to the Strip as a "demolition site" due to months of Israeli bombardment. The war has left most of Gaza's 2.3 million residents displaced.
Hamas
The Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas has issued a strong condemnation of recent statements by Trump.
In a press release, the Palestinian movement called Trump's comments "hostile" and "counterproductive", warning that they would only exacerbate tensions in the region.
The statement emphasized that Hamas and the Palestinian people would never allow any entity to occupy their land or impose external governance.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to establishing a Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital, calling for international bodies like the United Nations, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to urgently address the situation.
On his part, Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed US President Donald Trump's remarks about taking over Gaza as "ridiculous" and "absurd", warning that they could inflame tensions across the region.
"Trump’s remarks about his desire to control Gaza are ridiculous and absurd," Abu Zuhri said, as quoted by Reuters, adding that "any ideas of this kind are capable of igniting the region."
In the same context, Izzat al-Rishq, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, dismissed Trump’s proposal as reckless and uninformed. "Gaza is not an open land for any party to decide its fate," he said, stressing that the Strip is an "inseparable part of occupied Palestine."
"Any resolution must be based on ending the occupation and securing Palestinian rights—not on the mindset of a real estate mogul obsessed with power and dominance," al-Rishq added.
He also accused the United States of perpetuating Israeli aggression, saying Trump’s remarks reaffirm Washington’s "unwavering bias in favor of Israeli occupation and aggression against the Palestinian people."
Al-Rishq vowed that Palestinians, backed by their allies across the Arab and Muslim world, would resist any forced displacement plans. "Our people, supported by the free nations of the world, will thwart all attempts at expulsion and ethnic cleansing," he said.
'Desperate attempt to erase Palestinian identity'
Hamas spokesperson Abdel Latif al-Qanou also condemned Trump’s proposal, warning that it was part of a broader scheme to "eliminate the Palestinian cause."
"This is a desperate attempt to wipe out our just cause," he said, calling Trump’s rhetoric "dangerous" and aligned with the agenda of "Israelﾒs" far-right government.
Al-Qanou insisted that Palestinians would never accept forced removal from their homeland. "The people who have withstood the most brutal military assaults for 15 months, facing the world’s most lethal army, will not surrender," he said. "No matter the cost, they will remain steadfast on their land."
He urged the international community to reject Trump’s calls for the mass displacement of Palestinians, saying global powers must uphold their right to self-determination rather than facilitate their removal.
Abu Marzouk signals openness to talks with Trump
Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk signaled the group’s willingness to engage with Trump’s administration, telling Russian state media that Hamas is open to dialogue.
"We are ready to communicate and hold discussions with Trump’s administration," Abu Marzouk told RIA Novosti. "In the past, we have not opposed talks with Biden, Trump, or any other administration. We remain open to dialogue with any international actor."
Acknowledging Washington’s dominant role in Middle Eastern affairs, Abu Marzouk stated that Hamas recognizes the necessity of engaging with the US. "The United States is a key player in the region. That’s why we welcome dialogue," he said.
Other Palestinian factions slam Trump over Gaza takeover plan
In a separate statement, the Resistance Committees in Palestine also denounced Trump's rhetoric, accusing him of aligning with "Zionist forces and furthering Israeli war crimes."
The group called on the region's countries to unite against Trump's actions, asserting that his policies represent a threat not only to Palestinians but to the broader Middle East.
Abu Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Popular Resistance Committees, reaffirmed Palestinians’ determination to remain on their land, stating, "Our people have sacrificed nearly 50,000 martyrs to defend their right to stay." He also emphasized that "Egypt, both officially and en masse, will never allow the existence of an alternative homeland for Palestinians."
Hussein al-Sheikh, Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, reaffirmed the Palestinian leadership's unwavering stance that the "two-state" solution, based on international legitimacy and law, is the key to achieving security, stability, and peace.
In a post on X, he emphasized the leadership’s firm rejection of any calls for the displacement of the Palestinian people from their homeland.
Al-Sheikh declared, "Here we were born, here we lived, and here we will remain," expressing appreciation for the steadfast Arab position upholding these principles.
In the same vein, Fatah spokesperson Munther Hayek dismissed Trump’s remarks as "bizarre", asserting that "the only rightful return for Palestinians is to their homes in Haifa and Yafa, not forced displacement elsewhere."
Maher Mezher, a senior figure in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), accused the US of "leading the attacks on Resistance forces in Gaza and Lebanon." The Islamic Jihad Movement condemned Trump's statements, saying they confirm that "his administration is directly orchestrating the genocide, displacement, and expansion of occupation."
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement warned that any attempt to displace Palestinians would fail, highlighting their continued defiance despite more than a year of intense Israeli bombardment.
"Before Trump talks about displacing our people, he should remember that 15 months of relentless bombing with US weapons have failed to force them out," the group said.
"The Palestinian people have always chosen resistance—before Trump, and long after him," it added.
Palestinian leadership calls for international action
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas commended regional allies for their firm stance against the forcible displacement of the people of Gaza, highlighting Egypt and Jordan’s rejection of any proposals to force Palestinians out. He also praised Saudi Arabia’s continued opposition to Israeli settlement expansion, land theft, and forced removals, reiterating its commitment to an independent Palestinian state.
Calling for urgent international intervention, Abbas urged the United Nations and the Security Council to uphold international resolutions and take "immediate action to protect the Palestinian people, safeguard their right to self-determination, and end the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land."
Leaders must respect Palestinians' wish to stay in Gaza
Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour reaffirmed Palestinians’ commitment to their homeland, rejecting any suggestion of relocation and indirectly pushing back against US President Donald Trump’s proposal.
"Our homeland is our homeland. If part of it is destroyed—the Gaza Strip—the Palestinian people selected the choice to return to it," Mansour stated.
Speaking at the United Nations, he did not directly name Trump but made clear his opposition to the proposal, emphasizing, "Our country and our home is the Gaza Strip, it’s part of Palestine. We have no home. For those who want to send them to a happy, nice place, let them go back to their original homes inside Israel. There are nice places there, and they will be happy to return to these places."
Mansour highlighted the mass return of forcibly displaced Palestinians, noting, "In two days, in a span of a few hours, 400,000 Palestinians walking returned to the northern part of the Gaza Strip."
He concluded by stressing the importance of honoring Palestinian self-determination, "I think that we should be respecting the selections and the wishes of the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people in the end will make the determination, their determination."
https://english.almayadeen.net/news/politics/palestinian-officials--factions-condemn-trump-gaza-plot
Al Mayadeen – February 5, 2025
Trump's Gaza 'takeover' scheme sparks global backlash, rejection
Leaders of countries across the globe are firmly rejecting Donald Trump's ethnic cleansing plot of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
After US President Donald Trump introduced his "takeover" scheme for the Gaza Strip, which entails the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians recovering from the 15-month-long Israeli genocide, a wave of backlash swept the political scene as world leaders condemned and rejected the plot.
Trump predicted the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, could become "the Riviera of the Middle East" as he announced his plan to seize the territory, even if it entails the ethnic cleansing of around 2.4 million people.
"The Riviera of the Middle East. This could be something that could be so magnificent," Trump said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at which he again voiced hopes that Palestinians could be forced out of their homeland and said the United States would redevelop the territory.
China
China rejected the "forced transfer" of Palestinians, reiterating Gaza and its people's sovereignty, as well as their right to self-governance, a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian read.
"China has always maintained that Palestinian rule over Palestinians is the basic principle of the post-war governance of Gaza," Lin Jian stated.
France
France, in a statement, rejected the proposition of a "third party" governing the Gaza Strip following the Israeli war.
"France will continue to campaign for the implementation of the two-state solution, the only one that can guarantee long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike."
The Foreign Ministry then added that Gaza's future must not involve "control by a third state," rejecting the takeover plan.
United Kingdom
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday said that Palestinians should be able to "live and prosper in their homelands," hitting back at US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over the Gaza Strip.
"We've always been clear in our belief that we must see two states. We must see Palestinians live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza and the West Bank," he said speaking at a conference in Ukraine's capital Kiev.
On his part, Independent member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn blasted President Trump for hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is a wanted criminal under the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).
He then slammed the UK, saying, "Now would be a good time for our government to defend international law."
Corbyn then declared his rejection of Trump's scheme, saying, "Palestinians aren’t going anywhere."
Scotland
John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, slammed Trump's statements as "unacceptable and dangerous."
He condemned the collective punishment and suffering Palestinians in Gaza endured throughout the Israeli war on the territory, as well as the astronomical death toll, saying any suggestion to displace Palestinians from their home is intolerable.
Swinney claimed that the "two-state" solution would manifest "lasting peace" instead.
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip belongs to Palestinians and slammed plans for their expulsion would be "unacceptable" and "contrary to international law."
"It would also lead to new suffering and new hatred," said Baerbock in a statement, adding, "There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians."
Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Trump's remarks about displacing Palestinians from Gaza are a manifestation of the West's "abolitionist policy".
"The 'policy of abolition' is particularly evident now, including the abolition of international law... on the situation in the Middle East, when the Security Council resolutions that were recognized by everyone without exception as a necessary basis for working on the creation of a Palestinian state were simply canceled," he said in a meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also stated that the Kremlin is aware of both US President Donald Trump's remarks regarding a potential relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the rejection of this proposal by Middle Eastern countries.
Peskov told reporters that Russia’s stance on resolving the Middle East issue remains unchanged, claiming that it can only be achieved through a "two-state" solution.
Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares dismissed Trump's plot to forcibly displace Palestinians and assume control of Gaza to transform it into a "Riviera of the Middle East."
"I want to be very clear on this: Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians and they must stay in Gaza. Gaza is part of the future Palestinian state Spain supports and has to coexist guaranteeing the Israeli state's prosperity and safety," Albares stated.
Turkiye
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that Donald Trump's remarks were "unacceptable", emphasizing that any proposal excluding Palestinians from consideration would only fuel the struggle further.
In an interview for the state-owned Anadolu news agency, Fidan noted that Turkiye would reconsider its actions against the Israeli occupation—such as halting trade and recalling its ambassador—if the killing of Palestinians ceased and their living conditions improved.
UN: World indifferent to Israel’s genocide of Palestinians
The world has been indifferent towards the Israeli regime’s genocidal actions against the Palestinian people, says the UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories Francesca Albanese.
She was addressing a conference at the UN City Copenhagen in Denmark on Wednesday.
Albanese said she is shocked by the indifference towards international law, not just by Israel, but by most countries in the international community.
The UN official said Israel exploited the campaign of genocide in the Gaza Strip to expand its control and forcibly displace the Palestinians. The world only watched, so she put it, and allowed Israel to go ahead with its genocidal actions.
“Israel has carried out acts of genocide under the cover of war.”
Albanese voiced frustration over the lack of enforcement of the international court rulings against Israel.
She said Trump’s plan to relocate the people of Gaza is “unlawful, immoral and completely irresponsible.”
“What he proposes is… nonsense. It will make the regional crisis even worse. It is incitement to commit forced displacement, which is an international crime.”
When asked if economic development plans in Gaza could result in long-term peace, she said, “The international community has treated the issue of Palestine like something that can be managed in perpetuity through means of development, economic incentives and encouraging growth.”
“Frankly … it does not work … Peace through economic development is expectation of surrender and it will not work.”
“The only way to stop the violence is to give peace a chance through freedom.”
She also described the Israeli practices in the West Bank as “criminal.”
Albanese warned that the intentions of genocide in the occupied West Bank are clear in the way the regime targets the Palestinians, their land and property.
According to Albanese, these violations are repeated by the regime in every area of the occupied West Bank. Israel’s apparent goal is to change the demographic composition through forced displacement, and impose a new reality on the ground that serves the annexation and settlement expansion plans.
Reports indicate that Israel intentionally targets Palestinian adolescents, children, and women; the same crimes it committed during its genocidal campaign in Gaza. The number of casualties reflects the extent of the systematic violence practiced by the regime.
On January 15, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with the Palestinian resistance movements.
The regime failed to achieve any of its war objectives, including the “elimination” of Hamas.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/02/05/742257/UN-Israel-genocide-Palestinians-Albanese
Palestinian Information Center – February 5, 2025
Hamas: The Israeli crimes in W. Bank will not stop the resistance
RAMALLAH, (PIC) Senior Hamas official Abdul-Rahman Shadeed has said that the ongoing Israeli aggression against the West Bank, especially its northern areas, will not weaken the Palestinian people’s resilience and steadfastness and will not stop the resistance’s escalating strikes.
In a statement on Wednesday, Shadeed said that the “heroic” operation at the Tayasir checkpoint in eastern Tubas on Tuesday confirmed that the resistance would not rest and would continue to teach the Israeli occupation lessons in defending the Palestinian people’s rights and homeland.
Shadeed added that the Israeli crimes and violations against the Palestinian people would not succeed in dissuading them from achieving their goals and extracting their national rights.
He stressed that the Palestinian people and their resistance would form a strong shield protecting their rights and aspirations.
In another statement, the Hamas Movement mourned martyr Mohamed Daraghmeh, who killed two Israeli soldiers and injured eight others in a commando raid on an Israeli military post in Tubas on Tuesday.
“The Israeli occupation’s escalation of its crimes and its persistent raids in the West Bank cities and refugee camp, as well as the settler militias’ ongoing attacks, will result in more resistance strikes, which will not stop until the occupation comes to an end,” Hamas said in a statement on Wednesday.
https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/02/05/333486/
Iran’s upgraded Bavar-373 missile system flashes in war game
Iran has showcased its advanced, upgraded domestically-made Bavar-373 Air Defense Missile System, demonstrating its effective integration with the S-300 in destroying designated targets.
On the final day of the second phase of the large-scale “Eqtedar (Might) 1403” air defense drills on Wednesday, Iran’s Army activated the Second-Generation Bavar-373 to engage enemy aircraft attacking the exercise area in the Kavir Desert, successfully destroying the high-altitude hostile target.
The launchers of Bavar-373, which in the initial version lacked radar and relied on the central radar for target tracking and destruction, can now operate independently.
Furthermore, the Iranian-developed Bavar-373 and the Russian-made S-300 were integrated into the nationwide air defense network for the first time, operating in tandem during the war game.
The successful operation of the S-300 during the maneuver strongly refuted Israeli claims that all of the Islamic Republic’s S-300 missile defense systems were destroyed in Israeli airstrikes on Iran in October 2024.
A day earlier, the Iranian Army also successfully tested the locally developed low-altitude Majid missile defense system.
Spearheaded by the Army’s Air Defense Force, the large-scale war game was aimed at enhancing the Islamic Republic’s defense capabilities. It took place across key regions, including air defense zones in the western and northern parts of the country.
In recent weeks, Iran has also unveiled a new underground missile base containing numerous ballistic and cruise missiles, a new underground naval base holding speedboats carrying anti-ship missiles, along with a string of other weapons, including a new ballistic missile model capable of reaching Israel.
https://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2025/02/05/742262/Iran-Bavar-373-missile-system-
