Trump is ‘not bluffing’ on Gaza takeover, will do ‘what it takes,’ sources close to prez say

(by Diana Glebova, NY Post) WASHINGTON — President Trump’s [announcement that the U.S. will] take over the Gaza Strip is not a “bluff,” sources close to the White House told The Post Thursday.

“The president is absolutely serious,” one White House official stressed.

The conversations have been in the works for months, meaning Trump was negotiating a solution for the Hamas-controlled land strip at war with Israel before his term began.

Steve Witkoff — Trump’s Middle East envoy — has played an influential part in the planning, a second source familiar with the internal discussions on the matter said, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed.

Witkoff developed his longtime friendship with Trump making billions in real estate investing and development in New York City. He traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the final days of the Biden administration, which the Trump administration says played a key part in securing a hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas.

“Absolutely” Trump would be willing to take US control of Gaza, the source said.

“If that’s what it takes. He’s also creating a sense of urgency to end the status quo. And if Gulf States don’t like his plan then they should come up with their own and take more ownership of the situation. But the fact is that the status quo is a disaster,” the source added.

Trump’s announcement to relocate all Palestinians, take over Gaza and develop the land to create a “Riviera of the Middle East” on the Mediterranean came as a surprise to Washington — but the White House has maintained that the thoughts were being planned out behind the scenes before the president made his announcement on Tuesday.

It was Trump who presented the plan to take over Gaza to Netanyahu, Leavitt told The Post at Wednesday’s White House briefing.

Some Republicans have raised eyebrows at the possibility of getting entangled in a foreign conflict and putting American troops in harm’s way in the Middle East. Trump first said he would not rule out putting US boots on the ground, but then said, “no soldiers by the US would be needed.”

“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth,” he added.

“No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!”

Netanyahu also told reporters at the Capitol Thursday that “no” US troops will be needed to make the Gaza takeover plan “peaceful.”

A general view of the destruction as displaced Palestinians return to Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Jan. 23, 2025, during the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.

White House officials have argued all week that it will take at least 10 years to restore Gaza to a remotely habitable condition following 16 months of total war.

“Aerial images confirm it’s not habitable, not just because of destruction due to the conflict and that the Hamas cowards hide underground — but also because there are unexploded munitions” that have to be cleaned up, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters during a press conference Thursday.

Trump has said he wants Egypt or Jordan to take in at least some of Gaza’s more than 2 million residents, and has been firm that he expects both governments to agree to his demands.

“They won’t tell me no,” the president insisted Tuesday. “I want to remove all the residents of Gaza … it will happen.”

Published at NYPost .com. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.