The Gaza Strip, ever a crucible of conflict, is at the heart of geopolitical maneuvering, with its maritime gas reserves fueling speculation about US ambitions under Trump. Professor Michel Chossudovsky argues Trump may seek to transform Palestine into a kind of US territory, akin to occupied Iraq.
The provocative notion of an American-led administration in Gaza introduces unpredictability, especially as Netanyahu’s far-right coalition, including Otzma Yehudit and the Religious Zionism bloc, embraces the “Greater Israel” ideology, advocating Jewish sovereignty over Gaza and the West Bank.
Now, consider this: according to a February Asia Times story, three months before the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, Hamas okayed a US-brokered deal with its rival Palestinian Authority (PA) and Egypt to develop the Gaza Marine gas field, holding over 1 trillion cubic feet of gas—potentially powering Palestinian territories and generating export revenue. Progress stalled after the 2023 war, with Israel’s control over Gaza’s maritime zones clouding the field’s legal status. Yet, it remains a strategic prize.
Interestingly, in 2022, Hamas had opposed a similar Israel-Egypt-PA deal for the same Gaza Marine field, citing threats to Palestinian sovereignty. By 2023, it agreed in principle to a US-brokered deal, likely due to altered terms or economic pressures.
Be as it may, a Washington-led administration in Gaza adds further complexity. Reuters reported in May 2025 that the US and Israel discussed a transitional government led by an American official to “oversee” Gaza until it is demilitarized and a viable Palestinian administration emerges. This blatantly clashes with Israel’s Greater Israel ambitions.
Such a move could in fact position Washington and its players to exploit Gaza’s gas resources, which in turn aligns with Washington’s broader quest for strategic minerals and energy. We have all seen, for one thing, Trump’s demands for Ukraine’s rare minerals as a kind of “payment” for all the US aid sent to Kyiv. It is not so far-fetched to imagine that Gaza’s gas could thus become a bargaining chip in a similar transactional dynamic with Israel, especially given the context of the Iranian-Israel war that has just erupted, and the fact that the Jewish state will need American help to prevail.
Trump’s rhetoric about “taking” Gaza and transforming it into a “Freedom Zone” earlier this year has predictably enough sparked outrage, with critics labeling it ethnic cleansing. I did argue in March that this provocative proposal could be less a concrete plan than a blunt “who’s the boss” reminder to Israel, which remains the largest cumulative recipient of US aid ($150 billion by 2022).
However, it is time to reconsider that analysis and take seriously a scenario where Trump means it as a possible plan, even if as Plan B—and Chossudovsky seems to have a point here. The evidence suggests a calculated power play. As I wrote, Trump’s recent Middle East tour, prioritizing Gulf investments over Israeli interests, and his push for Israel to vote against Ukraine at the UN, for one thing underscore his willingness to “leverage” Israel’s dependence. This dynamic is further complicated by underreported tensions, including even suspicions of Israeli espionage linked to figures like Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which Trump could be weaponizing for leverage through his task force on classified documents.
In any case, Tel Aviv’s relentless push for a Washington-backed war against the Islamic Republic of Iran adds yet another layer of tension. As I noted, back in 2022, the Jewish state has long postured as if on the verge of attacking Iran, using the threat to secure American support while Washington in turn has thus far sought to contain Tehran without direct conflict.
Israel’s current need for American military assistance against Iran is acute, but Trump’s administration, already juggling domestic unrest and a faltering economy, risks being ensnared in a Middle East quagmire. In any case, the defense sector and the so-called “Israel Lobby”, as described by scholars John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, is expected to exert significant pressure for American involvement.
Trump’s flirtation with sidelining Israel while demanding concessions—like access to Gaza’s resources—could thus be his way of appeasing these different “Deep State” and defense industry interests while asserting dominance.
One may recall that the January 2025 Israel-Hamas ceasefire, credited to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, forced Israel to accept a deal it had previously rejected, highlighting US leverage. Yet, Israel’s recent approval of a plan to “capture” Gaza signals its firm intent to maintain control (with ideological and even religious overtones in play), thereby potentially clashing with Trump’s ambitions.
In conclusion, the Gaza Marine gas field and the prospect of an American-led administration represent a high-stakes gamble. Tel Aviv may finally drag Washington into the war it has long sought with Iran, but the cost could be an American presence in Palestine, exploiting its natural resources indefinitely—not exactly what Tel Aviv envisioned anyway.
So much for the “special” US-Israeli relationship; it remains to be seen if, when and how Trump will join Israel’s risky campaign against Tehran. Thus far, the evidence points to a delicate balancing act, with Trump wielding leverage to reshape alliances while navigating domestic and international pressures. Whether this leads to further US-Israel cooperation or conflict (the latter, in this scenario, is a possibility), the Gaza gas fields remain a flashpoint in a region where energy and power are inextricably linked. Meanwhile, the humanitarian plight of Palestinians goes on.
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This article was originally published on InfoBrics.
Uriel Araujo, PhD, is an anthropology researcher with a focus on international and ethnic conflicts. He is a regular contributor to Global Research.
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