What Are the Pros and Cons of the US Taking Control of Gaza? Cedarville University Professor of International Studies Weighs In

During his meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah on Tuesday, Feb. 11, in the Oval office, President Donald Trump told reporters that the United States will “own” Gaza.

Trump’s comments came one day after he said that “if all the Gaza hostages aren’t returned by Saturday at 12 p.m., I would say cancel the ceasefire. Let all hell break out; Israel can override it…all of them not in drips and drabs…Saturday at 12 p.m. and after that, I would say, all hell is going to break out.”

King Abdullah told Trump on Tuesday, “Mr. President, I truly believe that with all the challenges that we have in the Middle East, that I finally see somebody that can take us across the finish line to bring stability, peace and prosperity to all of us in the region.”

RELATED: Cedarville University Professor Breaks Down Trump and Zelenskyy’s Contentious Meeting

Dr. Glen Duerr Provides the Pros and Cons of a US Take-Over of Gaza

Dr. Glen Duerr, professor of international studies at Cedarville University, spoke with ChurchLeaders this week, providing some history on Gaza and sharing what he believes would be the pros and cons if the U.S. takes over Gaza.

Duerr also serves as an elder at University Baptist Church in Beavercreek, Ohio, serves as a Beavercreek city council member, and led a trip to Israel for Cedarville students in 2018.

“Gaza strip is 2.3 million people in one of the most densely populated places anywhere on the planet,” Duerr said. “This is a pretty poor area, as well, in terms of per capita income. So there’s a lot of different challenges. But at the same time, very scenic; [it is] located on the Mediterranean.”

Duerr explained that Gaza is “mentioned frequently in the Old Testament, from Zechariah to Zephaniah, but probably most will know it from the Book of Judges with Samson.”

Duerr said that Gaza last held a government election in 2006, when Hamas won. “[Hamas] has refused to hold an election ever since,” said Duerr, “and they have governed that territory. [Hamas] is a terrorist organization because it’s been designated as such, and has either committed terrorist attacks themselves or fueled others.”

“It should be noted that Hamas also governs,” he added. “It provides doctors, dentists, social work, all kinds of things to the people. It’s why some people in Gaza like them, but at the same time this is a a brutal situation.” Duerr noted that those living in Gaza who speak out against Hamas are oftentimes incarcerated, beaten, or killed. “So a difficult humanitarian situation on the ground,” said Duerr.

Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,100 people and taking 241 hostages. Duerr said that around 90 hostages still haven’t been released. Some experts believe only 55 of them are still alive.

RELATED: ‘Israel Is at War’—Netanyahu on ‘Gruesome’ Surprise Attack by Hamas

Duerr shared his thoughts on Trump’s demand for Hamas to release all the remaining hostages, saying:

We’re about three weeks into the ceasefire, which is really very good. Because after 15 months of conflict, it was difficult to know when it would end. Because, for Israel, they just need to get those citizens back. I mentioned 241, and yet they’re losing lives, members of the [Israel Defense Forces]. And then, at least, according to Hamas, some 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, and that’s a deep tragedy, because these are people made in the image of God with dignity and respect. But at the same time, Hamas is their government. And so it’s really, very, very difficult to think about how to proceed. And with that ceasefire, that again is about three weeks in place. The Biden administration had been negotiating for about eight months, but it really did take the victory of Trump to move it forward. And so credit is due to Trump, because I think it’s changed the situation a lot. But credit to Biden as well. There was a lot of background work by the secretary of state, by the Biden administration to get there. But really the ball was left to negotiate, because the first phase was 42 days. We’re about halfway through that now, but it left the phase two and phase three negotiations for the Trump administration to negotiate.

“That was supposed to start over a week ago, and it really hasn’t moved forward because it gets into long-term questions like, ‘Who governs Gaza? Who rebuilds it?’” Duerr said. “And there’s no good answer, because Israel doesn’t want to do it. Egypt, even though it’s next door, wants no piece of it.”