Trump Calls Gaza a 'Piece of Important Real Estate,' Says U.S. Military Presence 'Would be a Good Thing'

President Donald Trump reiterated his desire for the U.S. to control the Gaza Strip, calling it an "incredible piece of important real estate" following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday.

Speaking to press, Trump said "you know how I feel" about the enclave, adding that "having a peace force like the U.S. there controlling and owning" it would be a "good thing." "You call it the Freedom Zone."

At another passage of the interaction with press, Trump was asked about the act that the Israel-Hamas war is still ongoing even though "many Palestinian-Americans voted for" him because he "promised them to end the war."

"The war will stop at some point that won't be in the too distant future," Trump said, without providing specifics. Talks continue to be stalled as Israel expands its ground offensive in Gaza after ending the ceasefire.

Earlier this month Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a large expansion of the military operation, saying the army would seize "large areas" of Gaza. The Associated Press reported on Monday that Israel currently controls 50% of the strip as it doubled the size of a military buffer zone over the past weeks.