President Donald Trump shocked us with an unexpected possible solution to the conflict in the Middle East: Just let America take over.

The idea of the United States taking any sort of possession of the Gaza Strip, possibly the most hotly contested piece of real estate in the world, sent shock waves, as The New York Post reported.

However, according to insiders, this isn't a bluff. Someone close to the president told reporters that Trump's threat to take over the Strip is completely in earnest.

“The president is absolutely serious,” one White House official stressed.

More Preparations

The discussions have been on for months, according to the insider. Before Trump took office, he was already negotiating a settlement for the Hamas-controlled Palestinian strip that was at war with Israel.

According to a second person who is knowledgeable about the internal conversations on the topic, Steve Witkoff, who is Trump's ambassador to the Middle East, has played a significant role in the preparations.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt corroborated this, seeming to indicate that Gaza has been at the top of the POTUS to-do list for some time.

About the Ambassador

Witkoff made billions of dollars through real estate investing and development in New York City, which helped him to create his long-standing friendship with Trump.

In the latter days of the Biden administration, he traveled to Israel to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Trump administration claims that this meeting was crucial in striking a deal between Israel and Hamas to release hostages.

Trump in Charge

The White House insider said that “Absolutely” Trump would be willing to take over control of Gaza.

“If that’s what it takes. He’s also creating a sense of urgency to end the status quo. And if Gulf States don’t like his plan then they should come up with their own and take more ownership of the situation. But the fact is that the status quo is a disaster,” the source added.

At the White House briefing on Wednesday, Leavitt disclosed to reporters that Trump was the one who presented Netanyahu with the proposal to assume control of Gaza.

The potential for American personnel to be engaged in a foreign conflict and placed in harm's way in the Middle East has prompted some Republicans to raise their eyebrows. Initially, Trump stated that he would not exclude the possibility of placing US troops on the field. However, he later clarified that “no soldiers by the US would be needed.”