President Donald Trump expressed shock over the frail condition of Israeli hostages released last Saturday and hinted that his patience with Hamas in Gaza was wearing thin.
Trump described the released hostages, Or Levy, Eli Sharabi, and Ohad Ben Ami, as looking “like they haven’t had a meal in a month,” adding, “No reason for that, and I don’t know how much longer we can take it.” He went on to compare their condition to that of “Holocaust survivors.”
“I don’t know how much longer we can take that when I watch that. I know we have a deal where they’re supposed to dribble in and keep dribbling in, but they are in really bad shape. Even the ones that came out early were in a bit better shape, but mentally they were treated so badly. Who could take that? At some point, we’re gonna lose our patience,”
Trump said he was losing patience with the current hostage deal after witnessing the emaciated condition of the hostages released this week.
He also stated that he planned to meet with all the Arab leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, in addition to his scheduled meeting this week with Jordan’s King Abdullah.
Donald Trump on Air Force One:
“I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza…We’ll make it into a very good site for future development.”
This is INSANE pic.twitter.com/mqemY3cM7j
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 10, 2025
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Trump reiterated his commitment to taking control of the Gaza Strip, stating, “I’m committed to buying and owning Gaza. As far as us rebuilding it, we may give it to other states in the Middle East to build sections of it. Other people may do it through our auspices. But we’re committed to owning it, taking it, and making sure that Hamas doesn’t move back. There’s nothing to move back into. The place is a demolition site. The remainder will be demolished.”
“It’s a big mistake to allow the Palestinians or the people to be living in Gaza to go back yet another time. We don’t want Hamas going back, think of it as a big real estate site,” Trump said, adding, “The only reason they’re talking about returning to Gaza is because they don’t have an alternative. When they have one, they won’t want to return.”
“The US is going to own it and will very slowly – we’re in no rush – develop it. We’re going to bring stability to a totally war-torn part of the Middle East that has caused tremendous problems. It’s totally demolished right now but will be reclaimed, leveled out, fixed up,” he said.
“There won’t be anyone there, Hamas won’t be there. We’ll be building through other rich countries in the Middle East some beautiful sites for the Palestinians to live in. living in harmony and peace probably for the first time in hundreds of years,” he declared.
Trump’s proposal, which involves relocating all or most of Gaza’s Arab residents, has drawn criticism, especially from Arab allies. The president’s aides have tried to walk back part of the plan, clarifying that the US would not pay for it and no American soldiers would be deployed to Gaza.
However, Trump remains adamant about his plan to empty the Gaza Strip of its Arabs: “As far as moving back, there’s nothing to move back to,” he told the reporters aboard Air Force One, explaining that “the remainder” of Gaza “will be demolished. You can’t live in those buildings right now. We’ll make it into a good site for future development.”
“We’ll let other countries develop parts of it, it will be beautiful. People can come from all over the world and live there. We’re gonna take care of the Palestinians and make sure…they’re not murdered, Hamas has been a disaster,” he added.
