World leaders have strongly condemned Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and have the US take control of the territory.
UK Foreign Minister David Lammy stressed the need to secure a future for Palestinians in their homeland, reaffirming the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution.
He stated, “We’ve always been clear in our belief that we must see two states. We must see Palestinians live and prosper in their homelands in Gaza and the West Bank,” The Guardian reported.
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In Germany, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the idea of expelling Palestinians from Gaza “unacceptable” and a violation of international law.
She stated, “The civilian population of Gaza must not be expelled and Gaza must not be permanently occupied or repopulated. It is clear that Gaza – like the West Bank and East Jerusalem – belongs to the Palestinians. They form the basis for a future Palestinian state.”
Baerbock also warned, “It would also lead to new suffering and new hatred,” adding, “There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians.”
In Scotland, First Minister John Swinney condemned Trump’s proposal as “unacceptable and dangerous,” asserting that “there must be no ethnic cleansing.”
He added, “After months of collective punishment and the death of over 40,000 in Gaza, any suggestion Palestinians should be removed from their home is unacceptable and dangerous. There must be no ethnic cleansing. Only a proper two-state solution will bring lasting peace.”
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s former First Minister, whose in-laws were trapped in Gaza in 2023, also condemned Trump’s plan, labeling it “ethnic cleansing.”
He said, “Why is it a living hell? Who bombed it, killing tens of thousands of people, including children, and reduced Gaza to rubble? Also, what Trump calls ‘permanent resettlement’ is what the rest of the world should call ethnic cleansing. Gaza belongs to the people of Gaza. Period.”
Muslim & Arab Anger
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also criticized Trump’s proposal, calling it “unacceptable” and saying that relocating Palestinians from Gaza was something “neither we nor the region can accept.” He emphasized, “It is wrong to even bring it up for discussion.”
The Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) also rejected Trump’s idea. Secretary General Hussein al-Sheikh affirmed, “The PLO affirms its rejection of all calls for the displacement of the Palestinian people from their homeland” and reiterated support for a two-state solution.
Dr. Omar Suleiman, the American Muslim scholar, also rejected the suggestion writing on X, “If you thought Vietnam was bad, wait till you try Gaza.”
“As a morally bankrupt man with no principles, you’re incapable of understanding the Palestinians. Your little wanted friend there with that smirk is crumbling, and your “America First” is being further exposed by the day,” he added.
US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib also wrote on X, “This president is openly calling for ethnic cleansing while sitting next to a genocidal war criminal. He’s perfectly fine cutting off working Americans from federal funds while the funding to the Israeli government continues flowing.”
The Council on American Islamic Relations also issued a statement condemning the suggestion.
“Bismillah. Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States, and President Trump’s call to expel Palestinians from their land is an absolute non-starter,” the statement read.
“Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the entire Muslim world have made it clear that this delusional idea is unacceptable.”
Gaza, being under relentless attack by the Israeli army for more than 15 months, has resulted in a devastating human toll. Over 46,000 lives have been lost, with countless others wounded and displaced.
The scale of the destruction has left Gaza in ruins, deepening the suffering of its people. Amidst this tragic loss of life, the need for a just and lasting solution has never been clearer. As global leaders continue to voice their opposition to proposals that would further displace Palestinians, the call for peace, dignity, and the right to self-determination for the people of Gaza remains paramount.
