White House: Trump did not pledge to deploy US forces in Gaza

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said yesterday that US President Donald Trump has not committed to deploying ground forces in Gaza, adding that he remains dedicated to eliminating Hamas and ensuring lasting peace across the region.

At a press conference, Leavitt said that the president had not committed to putting “boots on the ground” in Gaza, and that the United States’ historic proposal for controlling Gaza, which Trump announced on Tuesday evening, reaffirms this commitment,

She added that US envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, recently travelled to Gaza and returned with images showing the dire conditions there, which he presented to the president.

“The president made this decision with a humanitarian heart,” she said.

Trump had earlier stated that the United States would take control of Gaza, adding that Washington would be responsible for dismantling all unexploded bombs dropped by the Israeli occupation army and other weapons in the area. Palestinians would be ethnically cleansed and moved to Egypt, Jordan and other countries, Trump said, and Gaza could be transformed to the “Riviera of the Middle East”.

READ: White House refuses to commit to ensuring Palestinians can stay in Gaza under Trump’s plan