US President Donald Trump's recent suggestion to have the United States 'take control' of the Gaza Strip has sparked significant criticism throughout the Middle East and beyond.

During a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Trump implied that Palestinians might be permanently uprooted from Gaza, a region heavily affected by ongoing conflicts with Israel, proposing that the US assume authority over the area.

He envisioned converting Gaza into an opulent resort, asserting that Palestinians 'can’t live in Gaza right now.' His remarks faced immediate rejection from Palestinian officials, including Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations, who contended that Gazans deserve the right to return to their ancestral homes in Israel.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also denounced the proposal, reiterating its stance on establishing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital and declaring that relations with Israel would not be established without this prerequisite being fulfilled.

A coalition of Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, added their voices to the opposition, stating that any initiative aimed at forcibly relocating Palestinians would aggravate regional instability.

International reactions included a statement from China’s foreign ministry, which condemned the forced relocation of Palestinians, and a reaffirmation from Australia regarding its support for a two-state solution.

On the other hand, the proposal received backing from far-right members of Israel's cabinet, such as former National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who expressed their approval via social media.

Netanyahu lauded Trump's proposal as 'thinking outside the box' and regarded him as Israel's 'greatest friend' in the White House.