After uproar, White House says Trump only seeking to remove Gazans ‘temporarily’

The White House appears to move away from US President Donald Trump’s assertion yesterday that he wants to permanently remove Palestinians outside of Gaza, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stressing that Washington’s goal is to only “temporarily” remove Palestinians.

Trump “has made it very clear… that he expects our partners in the region — particularly Egypt and Jordan — to accept Palestinian refugees temporarily so that we can rebuild their homes,” Leavitt says during a press conference.

Pressed to clarify whether the White House was shifting away from Trump’s talk of “permanent” to “temporary” relocation, Leavitt responds: “The president has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza for the rebuilding… as it’s a demolition site right now, it’s not a livable place for any human being.”

Her staff then flashes pictures on screens behind Leavitt showing the extent of Gaza’s destruction. “I think it’s actually quite evil to suggest that people should live in such dire conditions,” she says.

Leavitt is also pressed on Trump’s suggestion that the US could send troops to Gaza by reporters seeking to reconcile that idea with the president’s long-held comments against foreign entanglements, particularly in the Middle East.

“The president has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza,” she stresses.

“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in this rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region for all people… It does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort. It means Donald Trump, who is the best deal-maker on the planet, is going to strike a deal with our partners in the region,” Leavitt adds.

Pressed whether the US will move Palestinians by force if they don’t want to leave, the press secretary avoids answering directly, sufficing with insisting that Trump is committed to relocating Gazans in order to rebuild the Strip.

Leavitt begins her remarks by stressing that Trump is “committed to free[ing] all remaining hostages” and later adds that Hamas cannot be allowed to remain in control of Gaza, two positions that may place the administration at a crossroads, given the belief that Hamas is using hostages as an insurance policy to remain in power.