The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of Gaza and resettle its 2.1 million Palestinian residents.
Abbas emphasised that the rights of Palestinians will not be infringed upon, stating that Gaza is “an integral part of the State of Palestine.”
He warned that forced displacement would violate international law.
Hamas, which has been involved in an ongoing war with Israel, also condemned the proposal, warning it would escalate tensions in the region.
The plan has been met with widespread opposition from several countries, including Jordan, Egypt, and key US allies.
The United Nations (UN) issued a warning against “any form of ethnic cleansing,” with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressing that Gaza is an essential part of a future Palestinian state.
Saudi Arabia, in alignment with the Palestinian stance, reaffirmed that Palestinians would not be displaced from their land and that it would not normalize relations with Israel until a Palestinian state is established.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, expressed support for Trump’s idea, suggesting it could “change history” and be worth exploring further.
Later, the White House attempted to clarify Trump’s remarks, with spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stating that the US was committed to rebuilding Gaza and “temporarily” relocating its residents. She also noted that Trump had not committed to sending US troops to Gaza.
Trump’s controversial proposal comes amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
The conflict has led to widespread destruction, with over 47,000 people killed and more than 111,000 injured since the Israeli military’s operations began following a large-scale attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
Trump’s proposal to take over Gaza and relocate its residents, including potentially housing them in neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt, has sparked intense debate and opposition across the region.
Despite this, Israeli officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, expressed support for the plan, with some describing it as a potential solution to long-standing conflicts.
The proposal has significantly shifted US Middle East policy, breaking with decades of tradition regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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