"The US will occupy the Gaza Strip," declared Donald Trump during his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Donald Trump are meeting for the first time since Trump returned to the White House.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump declared that the US would "take over and own" the Gaza Strip.

"The United States will occupy the Gaza Strip, and we will also work there. At a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president was quoted by AP as saying, "We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site."

After clearing away the damaged structures, Trump continued, the US would endeavor to economically develop the region.

Trump claims that he and Netanyahu talked about destroying Hamas.

During their discussion behind closed doors, the leaders discussed how to eradicate Hamas and bring peace "to a troubled region."

Trump attacked his predecessor Joe Biden at the beginning of a joint news conference, claiming that "nobody did anything for four years" in the Middle East other than show ineptitude.

Despite their expressed opposition to taking in individuals from the war-torn region, Trump reportedly requested that Egypt and Jordan take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to Bloomberg.

At the press conference, Trump declared, "They say they're not going to accept — I say they will."

The encounter was Trump's first encounter with a foreign leader at the White House since he took office again.

Trump proposed a Palestine that is independent.
As part of a larger two-state solution to the protracted Israel-Palestinian problem, Trump hinted on Tuesday that he might be reevaluating an independent Palestine.

When asked if he was still dedicated to a plan similar to the one he outlined in 2020 that called for a Palestinian state, he responded to reporters, "Well, a lot of plans change with time."

Since I went and returned, many deaths have taken place. We are now dealing with a different scenario, which is both better and worse in some respects. However, we'll find a solution to the extremely challenging and complex situation we're in," Trump continued.