Trump says US will 'take over' Gaza, in joint PC with Netanyahu; key takeaways

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a joint press conference on late on after their meeting in the White House.
Trump proposed that the United States "take over" the Gaza Strip while discussing the truce with Hamas. While Netanyahu praised Trump, calling him "the greatest friend Israel has ever had."

Here are key takeaways from Trump-Netanyahu press conference

Trump says US will 'take over' Gaza

Trump announced that the United States would "take over" and "own" the Gaza Strip.
"The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We'll own it," Trump said at the press conference.

Trump did not rule out sending US troops to secure Gaza. "As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that," he said.
He said the United States would clear unexploded bombs, remove damaged buildings, and develop the area to provide jobs and housing.
He also repeated his suggestion that Palestinians should move to other Middle Eastern countries, such as Egypt and Jordan, even though both countries and the Palestinians have rejected this idea.
"It (Gaza strip) should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have really stood there and fought for it and lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there," Trump said.
He added that Gaza's two million people should "go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts."
Also read: Donald Trump suggests 'permanently' resettling of Palestinians from Gaza as he meets Netanyahu in White House

Trump says Gaza could become 'Riviera of the Middle East'

Trump said he saw US ownership of Gaza as a long-term plan, with Palestinians moving elsewhere. "This is not a decision made lightly," he said, adding, "Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land." He suggested that Gaza could become "the Riviera of the Middle East," open to people from around the world, including Palestinians. "The Riviera of the Middle East. This could be something that could be so magnificent," Trump said at the joint press conference.

Trump 'Greatest friend of Israel'

Netanyahu praised Trump, calling him "the greatest friend Israel has ever had." He said Trump's proposal for Gaza could "change history" and was worth considering.
"I've said this before, I'll say it again: you are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House," Netanyahu told reporters after the meeting in Washington. "And that's why the people of Israel have such enormous respect for you."

Israel has a job to finish in Gaza, says Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel must "finish the job in Gaza" and called on US President Donald Trump to help secure Israel’s future.
Netanyahu outlined three main goals: Eliminating Hamas, securing the release of hostages, and ensuring that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
He said he believed Trump's "willingness to puncture conventional thinking" would help achieve these objectives.
"Israel will end the war by winning the war. Israel’s victory will be America’s victory," Netanyahu said.