Trump Wants to Build 'The Riviera' in Gaza. His Own Team Is Running for Cover.

A day after President Donald Trump announced his unprecedented proposal for the United States to "take over" Gaza, his administration scrambled to soften key elements of the plan amid international opposition and legal concerns.

The Original Proposal

During a joint appearance with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House Tuesday, Trump proposed moving Gaza's Palestinian population out of the territory and transforming what he called "a demolition site" into "the Riviera of the Middle East" under U.S. control.

Administration's Rapid Retreat

By Wednesday, key officials moved to moderate several aspects of the president's announcement:

- Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Guatemala, reframed the proposal as merely clearing and rebuilding Gaza rather than claiming permanent control

- Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Republican senators in a closed-door session that Trump "doesn't want to put any U.S. troops on the ground, and he doesn't want to spend any U.S. dollars at all" on Gaza, according to Senator Josh Hawley

- Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that "the president has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza," though did not explain how control could be established without military presence

International Reaction

The proposal met swift opposition from key U.S. allies in the region:

- Saudi Arabia issued an early morning statement expressing "unequivocal rejection" of Palestinian displacement and maintained its position that normalized relations with Israel require a Palestinian state

- Egypt's foreign ministry insisted that Gaza recovery must proceed "without the Palestinians leaving"

- Jordan's King Abdullah II, meeting with Palestinian Authority leadership, rejected any displacement of Palestinians or land annexation

Legal Implications

Expert analysis indicates the proposal would constitute multiple violations of international law. Forced deportation or transfer of civilian populations is classified as:

- A violation of international humanitarian law

- A war crime

- A crime against humanity

Regional Impact

The announcement has created multiple diplomatic complications:

- Disrupted ongoing cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas

- Complicated U.S. efforts to broker normalized relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia

- Put regional allies Egypt and Jordan in a difficult position

Hamas, which has maintained control in Gaza and began reasserting authority during the recent cease-fire, immediately rejected any mass relocation of the population.

Mixed Reception in Israel

While the proposal faced international criticism, it found support among Israel's far-right politicians, who viewed it as a potential breakthrough in long-standing regional policy and a possible solution to militant threats without creating a Palestinian state.

The proposal has achieved the rare feat of uniting both allies and adversaries in opposition, though some have been careful to avoid direct criticism of Trump himself.

The New York Times contributed to this article.