US President Donald Trump said on Friday that his plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip was "successful", but he would not impose it, indicating that he would only make recommendations.

“The plan is really working, but I’m not going to impose it,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News Radio. “I’m going to sit down and recommend it, and then the United States will be in charge of the site.” Trump said he was surprised that Jordan and Egypt rejected the reconstruction plan, despite the American aid the two countries receive, adding: “We pay billions of dollars a year to Jordan and Egypt. I was a little surprised that they didn’t accept my plan.”

The US President stressed that his plan does not include Hamas, noting that the goal is to develop and completely rebuild the Strip: "There will be no Hamas, Gaza will be developed, and then we will start again in a clean place."

Trump suggested that Gazans might prefer to live in a developed and stable environment, saying: "If the people of Gaza were given a choice between that and living in a beautiful society, I think I know which choice they would make."