President Donald Trump said the United States would take over the Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere.
Here are some global reactions to the announcement, according to a roundup from Reuters:
Saudi Arabian foreign ministry:
Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom’s position in ‘a clear and explicit manner’ that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances.”
UK prime minister, Keir Starmer:
“They [Palestinians] must be allowed home, they must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution.”
German foreign minister, Annalena Baerbock:
Baerbock said the Gaza Strip belongs to Palestinians and their expulsion would be unacceptable and contrary to international law. “It would also lead to new suffering and new hatred … There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians.”
French foreign ministry spokeperson, Christophe Lemoine:
France reiterates its opposition to any forced displacement of the Palestinian population of Gaza, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, but also a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a major destabilising factor for our close partners Egypt and Jordan as well as for the entire region.”
Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel Albares:
I want to be very clear on this: Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians and they must stay in Gaza. Gaza is part of the future Palestinian state Spain supports and has to coexist guaranteeing the Israeli state’s prosperity and safety.”
Egyptian foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty:
Abdelatty discussed with Palestinian prime minister, Mohammad Mustafa, the importance of moving forward with recovery projects in Gaza without Palestinians leaving the territory.
Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov:
Russia believes a settlement in the Middle East is only possible on the basis of a two-state solution:
This is the thesis that is enshrined in the relevant UN security council resolution, this is the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option.”
Chinese foreign ministry:
China hopes all parties will take ceasefire and post-conflict governance as an opportunity to bring the Palestinian issue back on the right track of political settlement based on the two-state solution.”
Turkish foreign minister, Hakan Fidan:
Trump’s comments on a plan to take over Gaza are “unacceptable”. Any plans leaving Palestinians “out of the equation” would lead to more conflict.
UN human rights office:
It is crucial that we move towards the next phase of the ceasefire, to release all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, end the war and reconstruct Gaza, with full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
Any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited.”
Senior Hamas official, Sami Abu Zuhri:
Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass … What is required is to end the [Israeli] occupation and aggression against our people, not to expel them from their land.”
Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Palestinian leadership:
Abbas said the Palestinians will not relinquish their land, rights and sacred sites, and that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
Senior Iranian official:
Iran does not agree with any displacement of Palestinians and has communicated this through various channels.”
Irish foreign minister, Simon Harris:
It’s very clear the direction of travel here: we need a two state solution, and the people of Palestine and the people of Israel both have a right to live in states safely side by side, and that’s where the focus has to be. Any idea of displacing the people of Gaza anywhere else would be in clear contradiction with UN security council resolutions.”
Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese:
Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year. The Australian government supports on a bipartisan basis a two-state solution.” (The Guardian)
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