On 15 January 2025, Israel and Hamas declared a ceasefire after more than 460 days of ongoing conflict.
The United States, alongside Qatar and Egypt, played a key role in mediating the truce.
However, the political landscape shifted dramatically when Donald Trump was inaugurated as the US President on 20 January 2025.
Barely weeks into his new term, Trump made an extraordinary proposal on Tuesday (4 February 2025): the US should take over Gaza.
Trump Says The US Will “Take Over Gaza” & “Own” Gaza
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump declared his intention for the US to “take over” the Gaza Strip.
He proposed that the US would clear unexploded bombs, demolish damaged buildings, and launch economic development initiatives to create jobs and housing in the area.
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” Trump said in a joint press conference.
In addition, Trump suggested that Palestinians should not be the ones to return to Gaza.
He believed that those who had lived there had endured a “miserable existence” and that they should relocate to other Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt and Jordan instead.
Egypt and Jordan Reject Trump’s Proposal
Both nations, along with Palestinian representatives, quickly rejected this idea of moving Palestinians from Gaza.
The Palestinian envoy to the United Nations also rejected the idea, urging world leaders like Trump to “respect” Palestinian wishes.
Netanyahu stated that the proposal could “change history” and was worth serious consideration.
Ceasefire Developments and Ongoing Challenges
While the ceasefire brought temporary relief, negotiations for its second phase are ongoing.
On 4 February 2025, Hamas confirmed that talks had begun, focusing on shelter, relief, and reconstruction. Meanwhile, Israel has sent a team to Qatar to discuss the agreement’s next steps.
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire, Palestinian militants and Israel have begun exchanging hostages. So far, 18 hostages have been freed in exchange for approximately 600 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Families of Israeli hostages continue to urge all parties to maintain the agreement to secure their loved ones’ release.
Despite the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel has launched a new operation in the occupied West Bank, particularly targeting militants in the north.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) – now banned in Israel – has warned that the situation in the Jenin refugee camp is becoming “catastrophic”.
On 4 February, the Israeli army reported that a gunman killed two soldiers in an attack south of Jenin before being shot dead.
Impact of Israel-Hamas Conflict
The ceasefire has allowed a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food, fuel, and medical supplies. It has also facilitated the return of displaced residents to the north of the Palestinian territory.
The Israel-Hamas conflict first began on 7 October 2023, with Hamas attacking Israel.
The war has resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people on the Israeli side. It has also claimed the lives of 61,709 people, reported Al Jazeera.
The head of the Gaza Government Information Office reported that 76 per cent of Palestinians killed in the conflict have been recovered and taken to medical centers.
Furthermore, at least 14,222 people remain trapped under rubble or in areas they cannot access.
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