President Trump recently stirred controversy with his comments about Gaza. During a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he suggested that the U.S. could “take over” the Gaza Strip, proposing to transform it into a luxurious destination, likening it to “the Riviera of the Middle East.” This statement was met with swift backlash from various leaders in the Middle East and the U.S.
Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian representative at the U.N., expressed strong opposition on social media. He argued that instead of displacing Palestinians, they should be allowed to return to their original homes in Israel. “For those who want to send Gazans to a happy ‘nice place,'” he emphasized, “let them go back to their original homes inside Israel.” He insisted that Palestinians wish to rebuild Gaza themselves and urged global leaders to honor their wishes.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry also responded, reaffirming the rights of the Palestinian people. They stated that displacing Palestinians or any form of annexation is completely unacceptable. The ministry stressed the need for the international community to alleviate the suffering endured by Palestinians.
In the U.S., some politicians reacted strongly to Trump’s statement. Senator Chris Murphy criticized it, implying that this discourse was a distraction from significant issues affecting the government. He remarked, “I have news for you — we aren’t taking over Gaza.” Another senator, Chris Van Hollen, labeled the proposal as “ethnic cleansing by another name,” cautioning that it could inflame tensions in the region.
Former Congressman Justin Amash, who has Palestinian roots, stated that forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza would not only lead to another contentious occupation but could also be considered a crime against humanity. He urged Americans to reject such proposals.
A coalition of Arab nations had previously dismissed a notion from Trump suggesting that Palestinians be relocated to Egypt and Jordan. They asserted that any plan promoting the removal of Palestinians would destabilize the region and hinder peace efforts.
Nihad Awad, from the Council on American-Islamic Relations, echoed these sentiments, arguing that the U.S. should not intervene in Palestinian affairs and that such proposals would only create more conflict. “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States,” he declared, calling Trump’s ideas “unacceptable.”
On the other hand, Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, expressed support for Trump’s proposal, hinting at a desire for further annexation of Palestinian territories. His comments highlighted a divide in opinions around the U.S.’s role in the region.
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Source linkIsrael,Gaza Strip,Hamas
