President Donald Trump, while hosting a White House meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah at the White House Tuesday, reiterated his threat that the U.S. will take control of the Gaza Strip and move the nearly two million Palestinians living there to either Jordan or Egypt or somewhere.

Asked whether the U.S. would cut billions in financial aid to the two countries if they refused to accept the transfer of Palestinians, Trump sounded confident that Jordan and Egypt would carry out his wishes.

"I don't have to threaten that. I do believe we're above that," Trump said, contradicting his previous suggestion that holding back aid was a possibility.

How Will The US Attain Gaza?

Trump said the US could come to control Gaza without committing any money.

“We are not going to buy Gaza…we are going to take it and cherish it,” Trump said. ” It will bring peace to the Middle East. It is going to be a tremendous thing and put a lot of people to work.”

Speaking in broad strokes, Trump insisted that there has been overwhelming support for his plan to turn Gaza into a resort, though in fact most world leaders criticized his plan when it was first announced.

Trump suggested that the redeveloped area could have new hotels, office buildings and houses and "and we'll make it exciting."

Trump then waxed on about what a successful real estate magnate he is. "I can tell you about real estate. They're going to be in love with it," he said.

King Abdullah, What Say You?

When pressed by reporters specifically as to whether he agreed to the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza, King Adbullah said that more talks will be held soon with Egypt to discuss the issue. Egypt has also condemned Trump’s plan.

The King said that Jordan would need to take into consideration how it could or would be able to take Palestinians into his country. The kingdom already shelters 700,000 Syrian refugees and lacks the oil wealth of its neighbors, making continued U.S. aid crucial. Jordan receives nearly $2 billion in foreign aid to Jordan, which contributes at least 42% to the country’s total economy

“This is something that we as Arabs will discuss later and talk about the options,” King Abdullah said.

Two Palestinians from Michigan told Benzinga that they thought the King played his cards close to his chest and that deferring to upcoming talks with Egypt “was a good idea. He [Trump] already walked back the threat of cutting aid to both Egypt and Jordan.”

Analysts from various outlets agreed that King Abdullah held back in the short press briefing during which Trump did most of the talking. Though ahead of Tuesday's meeting, King Abdullah had reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state solution and the need for a "just and comprehensive peace" in the region.

In terms of Israel’s plan to annex the mostly Palestinian West Bank, Trump said, “That’s going to work out.”

Abdullah also announced that Jordan was intending to bring to Jordan 2,000 Palestinian children from Gaza in need of cancer treatment, which Trump said was a beautiful thing.

ETFs To Watch

According to Benzinga Pro, oil ETFs were in the green at last check Tuesday:

• ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil UCO is up by 2.65%
• United States Oil Fund LP USO is up by 1.25%
• SPDR S&P Oil & Gas Exploration & Production ETF XOP is up by 0.9%
• MicroSectorsTM Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 3X Leveraged ETNs OILU saw a 2.94% uptick

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Palestinian refugees in Gaza: Shutterstock