On February 4, 2025, President Donald Trump, during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, declared that Palestinians would "love" to leave the Gaza Strip if given the opportunity. His comment followed earlier suggestions that the war-torn territory should be "cleaned up," with the potential relocation of Gaza’s residents to "safer" locations such as Egypt or Jordan, which sparked widespread international outrage.

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, further fueled concern by stating that Gaza would remain uninhabitable for years, casting doubt on the feasibility of rebuilding the region within the five-year framework set by the ceasefire agreement. These comments come amid ongoing discussions about Gaza’s future and its reconstruction after 15 months of devastating conflict.

As the situation evolves, Trump is tasked with ensuring that Israel complies with the ceasefire, which has been in effect since January 19, 2025. While Hamas has confirmed that talks for the second phase of the truce have begun, Trump acknowledged that there is no guarantee the ceasefire would be extended beyond its current six-week period.