President Donald Trump has said he wants the US to "take over" Gaza, take a "long-term ownership position", and turn it into the "Riviera of the Middle East" .
"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 the site.
“Level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings. Level it out and create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area.
“We'll do a real job. Do something different. Just can't go back. If you go back, it's going to be the same way it has for 100 years.”
A little later, Trump was questioned on what authority he has to remove the population of 1.8 million people from Gaza.
He replied: “I do see a long term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East, and everybody I've spoken to, this was not a decision made lightly.
“Everybody I've spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent in a really magnificent area that nobody would know.”
"If you look over the decades, it's all death in Gaza. This has been happening for years, it's all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people permanently in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed, not be knifed to death like what's happening in Gaza...
"I believe we can resettle, and I believe we can do it in areas where the leaders currently say no."
At the end of the press conference, Trump spelled out his vision for how Gaza might look in the future:
"I envision people living there, the world's people. I think we'll make that into an international unbelievable place. I think the potential in the Gaza Strip is unbelievable.
"I think the entire world, representatives from all over the world , will be there, Palestinians also will live there, many people will live there.
"You have to learn from history, you just can't let it keep repeating itself. We have an opportunity to do something phenomenal. I don't want to be cute, I don't want to be a wise guy, but the Riviera of the Middle East, this could be something so magnificent.
"We'll make sure that it's done world class, it will be wonderful for the people, Palestinians mostly we're talking about. And despite them saying no, I have a feeling that the King in Jordan and that Egypt will open their hearts and give us the kind of land that we need to get this done, and people can live in harmony and peace."
