Donald Trump restates his plan for a US takeover of the Gaza Strip, after his idea was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world on Wednesday
Writing on social media, Trump says Gaza "would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting"
Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region," he adds
Trump's plan won't happen, writes our international editor Jeremy Bowen, but it will have consequences
Trump announced his Gaza plan on Tuesday night, saying he wanted the US to take a "long-term ownership position"
Trump will be speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC this morning – watch our coverage live at the top of the page
Edited by Emily Atkinson and Rorey Bosotti
As we've been reporting, Donald Trump is speaking at two prayer breakfasts this morning.
He's just stepped up to the podium at the first in Washington DC, where he thanks some of the senators in attendance, flanked by three US flags.
He begins by reflecting on the role of religion in the founding of the United States of America.
The president says the US will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in July next year.
He says that he intends to honour the nation's heroes and celebrate by signing an executive order for the creation of a new national park.
President Donald Trump is speaking now at the National Prayer Breakfast.
He opens by saying it's "very beautiful".
"Our country is starting to do very well again, it's happening fast, a little faster than people thought," he says.
We'll update you on the key lines here. You can follow along by tapping thewatch live button at the top of the page.
It's a packed schedule for the 47th president this morning local time. Here are the highlights:
The annual event, held on the first Thursday in February goes back to 1953, when president Dwight D Eisenhower was invited to join a prayer circle founded by Christian minister Abraham Vereide.
It's grown to become one of the most important political events on the Washington calendar.
Thousands of members of the American political establishment meet for a morning of eggs, coffee and prayer. This year, it's being hosted by Congress inside the Capitol.
According to the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation website, it is "an opportunity for Members of Congress to pray collectively for our nation, the President of the United States, and other national and international leaders in the spirit of love and reconciliation as Jesus of Nazareth taught 2,000 years ago".
Although all religious backgrounds are welcome, it is primarily a Christian gathering. Spinoff events are now held in other US cities and countries, including in the UK.
It's tradition for the president to speak, and we'll be hearing from Trump today.
Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter
After his comments on the future of Gaza drew international condemnation, Donald Trump will give a speech at the National Prayer Breakfast event in Washington this morning.
An annual tradition, the event hosts the US president as well as members of the US Congress and other dignitaries in an opportunity to pray collectively for the United States.
When Trump addressed the 68th annual gathering back in February 2020, he reflected on his work "building the world's most prosperous and inclusive society".
While taking the stage, he also waved two newspapers at the crowd, both displaying headlines that read "acquitted" after Senate impeachment proceedings against the president had been brought to an end.
We don’t know what Trump will say during his speech, but we expect him to address his comments on Gaza – that’s after his Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to row back on suggestions that the US “take over” the territory.
You can follow the speech by pressing watch live on the top of the page – we’re expecting it to begin after 13:00 GMT (08:00 EST).
In the meantime, we’ll keep you up to date on everything Trump said about the future of Gaza, as well as bringing you the world's reaction.
Nomia Iqbal
North America correspondent
The question of what to do about post-war Gaza has been a question that nobody has been able to answer.
Even PM Netanyahu has dodged it many times.
Despite the astonishing and unrealistic proposal of Donald Trump – a real estate developer turned president – he has opened up the issue on how to reconstruct Gaza.
He has constantly told his supporters he doesn’t believe in nation building or getting involved conflicts overseas so his plan is vague and full of contradictions.
But he also hasn’t really talked about what happens to Hamas and how to remove them from Gaza.
That is something many Arab nations would want to hear if they – and that’s a big if – they help in rebuilding the enclave.
Netanyahu has said the war won’t stop unless Hamas is totally destroyed – which defence experts say is unrealistic.
Spain and Ireland have hit back at Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz for suggesting the two countries are “legally obligated” to allow Gazans to enter their territory.
Reuters news agency reports an emailed statement from the Irish foreign ministry, that reads: “The objective must be a massive scale up of aid into Gaza, return of basic services and a clear framework under which those displaced can return.
“Any comments to the contrary are unhelpful and a source of distraction."
Meanwhile, Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares tells radio station RNE: "The place for Palestinians is Palestine and for Gazans it is Gaza.
“No one should enter into the debate about where the Palestinians and in particular the Gazans should go, because the debate is closed by them."
Tom Bateman
State Department Correspondent, Washington
President Trump’s latest social media post adds more detail to his plan for Gaza, meaning it’s possible to piece together more of what he is proposing – even though much of it remains vague and some elements have already been contradicted by his own officials.
He says that Gaza would be “turned over” to the United States by Israel at the end of the war.
The plan envisages that Israel would first expel all the Palestinians and the US would then become the occupying power.
However, he says this would be done without using any US troops.
The Americans “working with great development teams from all over the World” would then rebuild Gaza into “one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth”.
He has already said that the US would not pay for this – the reconstruction would be funded by other countries so that “the world’s people” can live in Gaza while most Palestinians would be “resettled… permanently” elsewhere.
Israel's defence minister Israel Katz has given his support to Trump's proposal
Overseas, there's been a outcry against Trump's suggestion to "take over" Gaza, as among other things it would likely mean a serious breach of international law.
However, the idea has been better received in Israel.
Its defence minister Israel Katz has posted on X, external praising Trump's "bold initiative" for creating "extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave".
"Countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory," he adds.
Katz also says he's instructed the Israeli military to prepare a plan allowing "any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them".
Shortly before Trump doubled-down on his Gaza proposal, Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds told the House of Commons the UK “would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will”.
Dodds says “Palestinians must determine the future of Gaza” and the UK government considers the enclave an “integral part” of a future Palestinian state “with Palestinians living next to Israelis in peace and security”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer reiterated the UK’s position in his phone call with President Trump last week, she adds.
Donald Trump has reiterated his plan for a US "takeover" of Gaza.
Trump's plan – first announced on Tuesday night – was rejected by Palestinians and leaders around the world on Wednesday.
But the US president seems to have doubled down – here's what he has said on his Truth Social platform, external just now:
"The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting. The Palestinians, people like Chuck Schumer, would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.
"They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free. The U.S., working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth. No soldiers by the U.S. would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!"
Chuck Schumer is the leader of the minority in the Senate, and a Democrat. In a speech last week, he criticised Trump for being "reckless and lawless".
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