In shock announcement, Trump says US will take over Gaza

In a statement that has shocked even by the controversial standards of his presidency, Donald Trump has vowed that the US would "take over" the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, declaring that the US would "own it" and suggesting the possibility of sending American troops to oversee the area.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday, Trump described Gaza as a “demolition site,” claiming that Palestinians want to return only because they have "no alternative."

He went on to add that Gaza could potentially be transformed into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Trump’s comments, which seemingly endorse the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, come amid an ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where years of conflict have left much of the territory devastated.

His words have sparked outrage and concern, with critics accusing him of advancing a dangerous and expansionist agenda.

This is not the first time Trump has made controversial remarks related to territorial claims.

In the past, he has suggested ideas such as the US taking over Greenland and Panama, as well as proposing that Canada should become the 51st state.