Senator Graham says ‘very little appetite’ for Trump’s plan to take over Gaza

A senior US lawmaker and key ally of President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the president’s suggestion for the US to take control of Gaza had little to no backing in the Senate.

Senator Lindsey Graham said there was very little appetite for the US to take over Gaza “in any way, shape or form.”

Speaking from Tel Aviv with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, Graham also noted, “We’re still a long way” from establishing diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Trump’s proposal to have the US control Gaza and displace Palestinians has sparked strong condemnation across the Arab world and much of Europe. During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this month, Trump referred to Gaza as a demolition site and suggested that Palestinians should be relocated to other countries for better living conditions. His repeated suggestions that Jordan and Egypt absorb displaced Palestinians were firmly rejected by the Arab world.

Graham also urged Israel to recognize the historic opportunity to integrate with its regional neighbors and ensure its long-term security. “You can destroy Hamas, and we will. But they will come back unless Palestinians have something to live for and Israel has the security to prevent another October 7,” he said.

Israel has shown complete support for Trump’s plan to forcibly displace Palestinians and has firmly rejected the idea of progressing toward a two-state solution.

Speaking about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Graham acknowledged that MBS has continually called for a dignified resolution to the Palestinian issue. “I understand the politics in Israel: you’re united in the belief that you don’t want to reward the Palestinians with a state after they killed 1,200 of your people. I get that, and nor should you,” Graham said.

However, he posed a critical question: “But the question becomes, how does this end? And how do you keep Hamas from coming back?”

Additionally, Graham noted that while Israel may have won the war militarily, it lost the battle for global perception. “Go anywhere in the Arab world; all they see is morning, noon, and night attacks on Palestinian people,” he said.