U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that President Donald Trump's proposal regarding Gaza is "generous" and not "hostile," aiming to rebuild the area. During a conference in Guatemala, Rubio emphasized that the United States is willing to take on the reconstruction of Gaza, a task he considers enormous and necessary due to the severe damage suffered in the region.
Rubio underscored that Trump's proposal aims for the local population to eventually return to Gaza, rebuilding homes, businesses, and removing unexploded bombs. Trump, at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, expressed the U.S. intention to take long-term control of the Gaza Strip and turn it into a new "Middle Eastern Riviera," permanently relocating Palestinians to other countries.
On the other hand, skepticism is voiced by the Democratic opposition towards this proposal, considering it could be a distraction strategy by Trump. Democratic lawmakers such as Chris Murphy view this initiative as an attempt to divert attention from other problems. In contrast, Republican leaders like Mike Johnson see the proposal as bold and are looking for more details about it.
Human rights organizations criticized Trump's proposal, labeling it as illegal, and highlighted that humanitarian law prohibits the forced displacement of populations in occupied territories. Rubio is in Guatemala as part of a tour of Central America and the Dominican Republic to address immigration and security issues, as well as to seek to reduce China's influence in the region.
In Gaza, the number of deaths from conflicts has risen to 540, with two new deaths reported, while the total number of injuries reached 618 people since October 2023. Democratic lawmakers believe that Trump's proposal constitutes a call for "ethnic cleansing" by suggesting the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, assuming control over the enclave and leading its reconstruction.
