Donald Trump has lamented that Gaza could be “one of the best places in the world”, claiming the Palestinian people living there had not done enough to exploit their Mediterranean location, AFP reports.

Conservative media personality Hugh Hewitt asked the Republican White House nominee and former real estate developer in a radio interview if Gaza could rival Monaco if it was “rebuilt the right way.”

“It could be better than Monaco. It has the best location in the Middle East, the best water, the best everything,” Trump replied.

Trump said he had “been there” and that it made him say “wow” — although he alleged that the locals “never took advantage” of their seafront views.

“It could be the most beautiful place. The weather, the water, the whole thing, that climate — it could be so beautiful. It could be the best thing in the Middle East, but it could be one of the best places in the world.”