Trump has not yet committed to sending U.S. troops to Gaza

 Direct translation

White House: Trump has not yet committed to sending U.S. troops to Gaza

Reporter, editing : Lin Yan / https://www.epochtimes.com/b5/25/2/5/n14430695.htm / Image : U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu answer questions during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on 4 February 2025. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)

On Wednesday (5 February 2025), White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt emphasized that President Trump has not promised to send U.S. troops into Gaza, denying the possibility he hinted at a press conference with the Israeli prime minister on Tuesday.

During the question-and-answer session, a media outlet asked whether U.S. military personnel would be sent to ensure security in Gaza. The president replied, "We will take the necessary measures," but did not elaborate further.

Trump's response attracted great attention from the media. At the White House's daily press briefing on Wednesday, several questions were about Gaza, and the White House strongly denied any suggestion that the United States would be drawn into another Middle East conflict.

"The president has not committed to sending ground troops to Gaza. He has also stated that the United States will not pay for the reconstruction of Gaza. The Trump administration will work with partners in the region to rebuild the area," Levitt told reporters at the White House.

"The president has not committed to deploying U.S. troops in the region," she stressed.

Trump's new vision for Gaza

Trump verbally announced a Gaza plan on Tuesday, supporting the resettlement of Palestinians outside Gaza and raising the possibility of a U.S. takeover of Gaza, suggesting the Strip could become the "Riviera of the Middle East."

The move marks a break for the United States from its Middle East policy of the past few decades.

Asked whether he believed only Palestinians should live in Gaza, Trump did not explicitly say, instead saying he wanted the region to be a home for "people from all over the world."

Trump also suggested relocating Palestinians in Gaza to other locations, and proposed one or a dozen different sites as possible resettlement sites.

He also described a potential US takeover of Gaza as "a long-term ownership".

International reaction

Then, there were doubts about the feasibility of the plan. After 15 months of war, much of Gaza has been reduced to ruins. Trump administration officials estimate that rebuilding the Gaza Strip could take 10 to 15 years.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump's vision was for Palestinians to leave Gaza "temporarily" to rebuild and clear the rubble.

Levitt on Wednesday also rejected Trump's assertion that the Palestinians needed to be permanently settled in the neighboring country, saying instead that they were being advised to "temporarily relocate" to allow for reconstruction.

She said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been informed of the plan before Trump's announcement on Tuesday. Netanyahu, who is visiting the United States, did not comment on the issue on Wednesday.

Jordan's King Abdullah said on Wednesday he rejected any moves to annex land and expel Palestinians. Egypt said it would support the Gaza recovery plan but stressed that Palestinians would not have to leave the area. Saudi Arabia also rejected the proposal.

Since the Gaza war, countries in the Middle East have refused to allow Palestinians to seek refuge in their territories.

Internationally, including Russia, Beijing and Germany have expressed opposition to Trump's Gaza plan.

They said they still support the U.S. solution on Gaza that has been in place for decades, which sees Gaza as part of a future Palestine that includes the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Reuters said it was unclear whether Trump would proceed with his proposal or simply use the extreme stance as a negotiating tactic, just as he has done in the past with the "art of the deal" on other issues.