ADDS DETAILS THROUGHOUT
By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - The White House refused Wednesday to commit to ensuring that any Palestinian that wants to remain in the besieged Gaza Strip will be allowed to do so under a highly controversial proposal put forward by President Donald Trump this week.
Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the White House expects Jordan and Egypt to accept displaced Palestinians "temporarily." But when asked directly by a reporter if she could confirm that under Trump's plan to take ownership of the territory, Palestinians would be allowed to stay, Leavitt said: "I can confirm that the president is committed to rebuilding Gaza and to temporarily relocating those who are there."
"It is a demolition site. There is no running water, there is no electricity. The president wants these individuals to live in peace. He is committed to doing that with this very bold new plan, and we will continue to keep you apprised of updates as we receive them," she said, refusing to answer the reporter's follow-up question.
Trump said during a Tuesday evening news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US "will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too" and send in US troops if necessary and turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East."
Asked about Trump's willingness to send in US troops, Leavitt maintained that no decision has yet been made.
"The President has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza. He has also said that the United States is not going to pay for the rebuilding of Gaza. His administration is going to work with our partners in the region to reconstruct this region," she said. "He has made it very clear, he's been very vocal, that he expects our partners in the region, particularly Egypt and Jordan, to accept Palestinian refugees temporarily so that we can rebuild their home."
Trump’s proposal came after a ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on Jan. 19, suspending Israel’s war that has killed more than 47,500 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins amid mass displacement and acute shortages of badly needed humanitarian goods.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.