WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that the besieged Gaza Strip should be turned into what he called a US-controlled "freedom zone," though the specifics on his proposal remain vague.

"I have concepts for Gaza that I think are very good, make it a freedom zone, let the United States get involved and make it just a freedom zone. Have a real freedom zone, because it seems that Gaza, every time, every 10 years, it happens, and more than that. It really happens all throughout. It never solved the Gaza problem," he told reporters in Qatar before departing for the United Arab Emirates, the final stop on his Gulf tour.

Trump said that "if it's necessary, I think I'd be proud to have the United States have it, take it, make it a freedom zone."

"Let some good things happen. Put people in homes where they can be safe, and Hamas is going to have to be dealt with," he said.

Trump first floated his proposal for the US to take ownership of Gaza in February. The plan was widely rebuffed by nations around the world, but the US president has continued to raise it sporadically over the course of the past three months.

His description of a "freedom zone" is new, however. Details on what that would entail remain sparse as the president did not elaborate during his brief remarks.