Donald Trump on Tuesday restated his plan for the US to take over Gaza and permanently resettle its residents, as he met Jordan's King Abdullah II amid widespread opposition to his plan among Arab nations.
Shortly after the king and his son arrived at the White House, reporters were ushered into the Oval Office where the US president signaled he would not budge on his plan for the US to take over Gaza, move its shell-shocked residents and transform the war-ravaged territory.
"We're going to take it. We're going to hold it, we're going to cherish it. We're going to get it going eventually, where a lot of jobs are going to be created for the people in the Middle East," Trump said of Gaza, saying his plan would "bring peace" to the region.
Trump has said he would consider withholding aid from Jordan if it refuses to resettle Palestinians.
King Abdullah has previously said he rejects any moves to annex land and displace Palestinians.
Asked on Tuesday about taking in Palestinians, he said he had to do what is best for his country, and said Arab nations would come to Washington with a counterproposal.
Three out of four Americans -- 74% -- in a Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted February 7-9 said they opposed the idea of the US taking control of Gaza and displacing the Palestinians who live there. The poll showed that Republicans were divided on the issue, with 55% opposed and 43% supportive.
Trump's proposal has introduced new complexity into a sensitive regional dynamic, including a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Hamas on Monday said it would stop releasing Israeli hostages from Gaza until further notice, saying Israel was violating the agreement to end strikes that have pummeled Gaza. Trump later proposed canceling the ceasefire if Hamas doesn't release all remaining hostages it took on October 7, 2023, by Saturday.
Trump said on Tuesday that "all bets are off" if Hamas does not meet the deadline, adding that he does not think the Palestinian group will do so.
