President Donald Trump has suggested Palestinian people could be resettled in other countries while the US takes over Gaza to remove unexploded bombs, rebuild and economically redevelop the territory.
He spoke at a joint White House news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Trump’s idea was “worth paying attention to”.
The Gaza Strip is surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. On 7 October 2023, Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages.
This triggered an Israeli military offensive in which more than 47,400 people have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Gaza has been completely devastated by the war
Gaza has suffered vast destruction with a colossal humanitarian impact over the 15 months of war.
More than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, and much of its infrastructure has been completely leveled by air strikes.
The United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) reports that 69% of all structures in Gaza had been destroyed or damaged at the start of December.
Further, it says 68% of the road network in the strip had been damaged or destroyed.
Its figures on the health system show that half of Gaza’s hospitals are closed, with the others just partially functional, meaning many of those still open lack the ability to treat chronic diseases and complex injuries.
Source: BBC
