Former Fox News host Geraldo Rivera took to social media on Wednesday to condemn President Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to "take over" Gaza, stating his plan has an "utter lack of common sense."
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Rivera via email for comment.
Why It Matters
After discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump suggested relocating Palestinians to neighboring countries and implementing a U.S.-led reconstruction effort following the devastating war since Hamas forces attacked Israel from the territory on October 7, 2023.
He also suggested that American troops could be sent into Gaza. "We'll do what is necessary," he said when asked about deploying U.S. troops to fill a potential security vacuum—ideas the White House said the next day were "out-of-the-box."
Trump's proposal could raise doubts over long-standing international calls for a two-state solution with a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Palestinians say relocation would mean an erosion of their aim of statehood and their demand for a "right of return".
Meanwhile, Rivera, who has been a prominent conservative for many years and was at one time friends with Trump, has since condemned Trump on several issues including immigration.
What To Know
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Rivera responded to Trump's comments in a lengthy post condemning Trump's plan noting its "utter lack of common sense" for the people who already live there, questioning, "Where will they go?"
"President Trump's explosive musing on the future of the Gaza Strip is a lot of things: dramatic, bold, historic. it is also breathtaking in its utter lack of common sense, and recognition of the human rights of the people who already live there, the Palestinian."
He added: "Where will they go? Stateless, unemployed, resentful, which other nation would risk its own stability to absorb 1.5 million hungry, frustrated, angry, heavily armed refugees? Canada? South Dakota? Africa?"
Rivera's comments come as the president did not clarify under what legal authority he could take control of Gaza or displace the approximately 1.8 million Palestinians who remain there.
Gaza has been largely destroyed by persistent Israeli bombing campaigns and ground assaults since Hamas, in control of Gaza since 2007, launched its October 7 attacks on Israel in 2023. More than 1,200 people were killed in these attacks in Israel and another 250 were taken hostage in Gaza, while Hamas-run health authorities say more than 47,500 people have been killed in the strip in Israeli operations.
The majority of Gaza's residents live in refugee camps, many displaced several times over the course of the war.
In addition, this comes as a ceasefire deal continues. Following 15 months of conflict, the first phase of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into effect on January 19. It included the release of some hostages captured by the militant group in exchange for the release of some Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. However, the second phase of the ceasefire deal is still in talks.
However, during Wednesday afternoon's press conference, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that President Donald Trump was "not committed" to sending United States troops to the Gaza Strip. Leavitt was asked several questions regarding Trump's remarks regarding the U.S. "take over" of war-torn Gaza.
In response to a question about Trump's remarks, Leavitt said, "The president has not committed to boots on the ground in Gaza...the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza. This is an out-of-the-box idea...his goal is lasting peace in the Middle East for all people in the region."
This comes after Trump's remarks have also been met with widespread rejection from world leaders who denounced it as a violation of international law. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri also rejected Trump's comments, warning of potential "chaos."
What People Are Saying
Trump's comments prompted trepidation even among some members of his own party, including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who told a reporter: "I think that would be an interesting proposal. We'll see what our Arab friends say about that. I think most South Carolinians would probably not be excited about sending Americans to take over Gaza. It might be problematic."
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in a statement on Tuesday: "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States, and President Trump's call to expel Palestinians from their land is an absolute non-starter. If the Palestinian people were ever somehow forcibly expelled from Gaza, this crime against humanity would spark widespread conflict, put the final nail in the coffin of international law, and destroy what remains of our nation's international image and standing."
What Happens Next
Netanyahu is expected to meet with other senior administration officials and members of Congress later in the week as part of his trip to Washington.
Meanwhile, negotiations over the next stage of the ceasefire are set to continue, with Israel confirming it will send a delegation to Qatar for indirect talks with Hamas.
Trump told reporters that he will make a statement in the coming weeks on Israel potentially annexing parts of the West Bank. He has not yet laid out a plan or a timeline to "take over" Gaza.
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