I'm don't feel comfortable with the US "buying" Gaza.
If for whatever reason President Trump is not able to finish his term, this is hypothetical, and whoever takes over his position we cannot know where it would go with US owning Gaza.
I still feel the best way is for US to have "control" over Gaza but to Help Israel rebuild and take ultimate control over their own God given Land and maybe US military bases can be planted in Gaza to insure stability and protection from Terrorists RE entering Gaza.
This would be the way to bless Israel and God bless the USA.
Praying for God to give guidance and wisdom to President Trump by using a believer to counsel him on what to do with Gaza
In times like this, I believe it is good to remember that what nations say publicly is a sort of "currency." Like money. It has a certain value associated with it. Throughout history we can see nations taking certain positions publicly that behind the scenes play out somewhat differently. In some cases this can be deception. But in general as a rule, "the newspaper version statements and affirmations of national leaders" mean one thing publicly. But often are 1 piece of a far more politically complex composition.
In this case, it could be understood that America be not seen as taking over Gaza temporarily for Isreal. The reason for that would likely be that most Arab adversaries to Israel would see that America is just buying time to merely give Gaza back to Israel (because it is understood when America has conservative leadership it favors Israel). If America says "We will take it over until things settle down and then give it back to Israel," that is like saying: AMERICA GIVES GAZA BACK TO ISRAEL. And the idea of America taking control of Gaza for now is to bring stability to the region. Not start new turmoil. If America is seen as trying to give Gaza back to Israel, that is more toxic to the region than saying America will keep it. Because then, you can't really technically say America is giving Gaza back to Israel. At least technically.
I don't believe Zephaniah factors into this scene. What seems far more likely, in general, is that Israel will get stronger with Abraham Accords strengthening for the region. And as much as we tend to blend the Abraham Accords into end times covenant with the many, I don't believe this is the age appopriate sense that belongs to the Abraham Accords. Because we are in the age of grace still. So if Abraham Accords grants temporary peace in the region, then it likely means for the age of grace: peace in the region. And as that dust settles, it would make sense this provide Israel their Ez 38 context. Which would mean that the Abraham Accords would be prophetically providential for the Ez 38 prophecy to form out from.
One thing I think too that is helpful in associating our current day context with Israel is that when Ez 38 hits, Israel will not be looked at in terms of who is dividing it or not. By that time, Israel will lose 2/3rds of their country. So if we go by what divides Israel in the sense of a tenth of land or a 5th of land, everything is leaning toward them losing 2/3rds of their country in our age anyway. Looking at it this way might be a more context sensitive overview:
- 1st Century Israel rejects her Messiah
- 2nd Century Israel is diaspora-ed
- 20th Century -- Israel returns to her land God Himself kept her from for 2,000 years
- Israel gains great strides in her return
- By God's grace Israel gets priviledged protection and advancement
- By God's grace Israel enters into peace in her region
- Ez 38 takes out 2/3rds of her country
- God repays those who went against Israel
- The tribulation
So in that schematic, why is dividing Israel an issue? They are going to lose it anyway. The Joel 3:2 passage not to divide Israel refers to Israel's land mass in the tribulation. Prior to the tribulation, Israel (from their standpoint) is not in any covenant with God. Once the 70th week hits, Isreal is in her targeted zone in reference to God's dealings with them specifically. So the 70th week is God's dealing with Israel. Until then, we have Israel in age of grace genre where they basically just came back to their land. And various nations are trying to work for her good. I think putting a context of dividing Israel or not is either in regards to Israel's 69th week (which was centuries ago), or her 70th week. Both in which her context is under the special covenent "active" God has place Israel within. Outside of that (as I would see it), Israel is given grace to consider rapture with the church. Or get hit with Ez 38. Not holding on to her land or not. In the meantime, like any nation, Israel needs to be responsible and reasonably protect her nation.
I just think overlaying what belongs to Israel or not at this point is an argument for a week she belongs under God's direction supervision. Outside of the 69th week and the 70th week, Israel is not even conscious of her God. So what God provides her in the meantime is His grace sustaining. God well understands the trying conditions Israel is in in her region. He placed her in those conditions. Since Israel is on a fast track trajectory for Ez 38 and her 70th week, that reality (as I would see it) Trump whatever else we think belongs in that. And I would venture to say as well, how we might be thinking of the dividing of Israel issue. I believe the dispensation Israel is in today in not of "high focus whether she is a 1, 2, or 3 state." She is on a train to Ez 38 and her 70th week. And that trajectory, in my understanding, Trump's every other consideration that might apply. IMHO. Blessings.