This week, President Donald Trump embarked on a trip to the Middle East to visit Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi.
The day before the trip, Hamas leaders freed US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander. He was taken captive by the terrorist organization on Oct. 7, 2023.
While Trump did not visit Israel during this trip, the topic of the Israel-Hamas war was brought up on Thursday.
According to multiple outlets, Trump reportedly said that the Gaza Strip should be made into a “freedom zone.”
"Gaza has been a territory of death and destruction for many years," Trump said, according to the outlets. "I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good — make it a freedom zone. Let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone."
“I’d be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone, let some good things happen. Put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with,” Trump added.
.@POTUS #DonaldTrump said he wants to turn the #Gaza Strip into a "freedom zone" while describing the area as "the territory of death and destruction" during a roundtable meeting in #Doha on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/twoHAR8BWf
— Doha News (@dohanews) May 15, 2025
BREAKING: President Trump on Gaza:
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) May 14, 2025
“In Gaza my administration shares the hope of a future of safety and dignity for the Palestinian people but that can’t happen as long as Gaza’s leader take delight in raping, murdering and torturing innocent people.” pic.twitter.com/zVALJhQH1s
In February, Trump made remarks where he said that the US should “own” the Gaza Strip and develop it.