US President Donald Trump’s statements regarding “taking over” Gaza and “relocating” its population have stirred worldwide condemnation, highlighting the widespread rejection of any forced displacement of Palestinians.
Leaders from across the political spectrum, human rights organizations, and international institutions have reaffirmed the necessity of upholding international law and ensuring Palestinians’ right to remain in their homeland, an international law that also respects their right to armed resistance against a blatant occupier.
Western Countries
Beginning with the US’ closest ally in Europe, the United Kingdom, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the Palestinians of Gaza “must be allowed a home, they must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuilding on the way to a two-state solution.”
For their part, EU Member state leaders also had their own comments to make. German Foreign Minister Annalena 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 Spokesman Christopher Lemoine said that “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 destabilizing factor for our close partners Egypt and Jordan as well as for the entire region.”
On the other hand, the Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno, stated: “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.”
At a news conference with Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Tuesday, Trump declared that the US “will take over Gaza, level it and create the Riviera of the Middle East,” after brazenly calling the whole territory a “demolition zone”.
⚡️🇺🇸BREAKING: Donald Trump announces that the U.S will take over Gaza:
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site. Level the site… pic.twitter.com/YLQVa4P1WN
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) February 5, 2025
Russia, China, Other Countries
Commenting on Trump’s remarks, Russia believes a settlement in West Asia is the only possible 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,” Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the matter as well: “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.”
“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”. Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva expressed shock at Trump’s supposed plan: “It makes no sense … Where would Palestinians live? This is something incomprehensible to any human being…Palestinians are the ones who need to take care of Gaza.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva:
○ “It is unacceptable for the US President to meet the Israeli Prime Minister and agree to occupy Gaza and displace its people.”
○ “No one can comprehend what Trump said and I wonder if he thought where the Palestinians would… pic.twitter.com/JkXLz4saLc
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) February 5, 2025
Simon Harris, Ireland’s Foreign Minister, relayed his country’s stance: “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.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported a two-state solution similar to the statements of his European counterparts. “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.”
Int’l Organizations
Human rights organizations also condemned Trump’s statements across the board, the UN human rights office stated that, “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.”
“It would be a moral abomination,” said Omar Shakir, Director of Human Rights Watch’s “Israel” and Palestine branch. “International humanitarian law forbids the forced displacement of the population of an occupied territory. When such forced displacement is widespread, it can amount to a war crime or a crime against humanity.”
“Any plan to forcibly deport Palestinians outside the occupied territory against their will is a war crime, and when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population, it would constitute a crime against humanity” – Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard.
Source: Agencies and social media
