Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has expressed deep skepticism over the US proposal to "take control" of Gaza, calling it a pretext for the forced displacement of Palestinians under the guise of "bringing peace to the Middle East."

Speaking to the media, Lula questioned whether the US, the Israeli occupation's closest ally, had any legitimate right to occupy Palestinian land.

"What happened in Gaza was genocide," he stated. "Honestly, I don't know if the United States, which is part of all this, is the right country to oversee Gaza."

Lula further criticized Washington’s global role, remarking, "The US has been marketed as a symbol of world democracy, but it has appointed itself as the planet’s judge."

Colombian president condemns US plan

Colombian President Gustavo Petro also weighed in on former US President Donald Trump's remarks about Gaza, warning that such a move could trigger an even worse war.

"They are about to ignite the worst war, based on their belief that they are God’s chosen people," Petro said.

He emphasized that "God’s people are not white Americans or Israelis. God’s people are all of humanity."

Lula and Petro's statements add to the growing international backlash against US policies on Gaza, as concerns mount over the future of the Palestinian territory.

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Gaza 'takeover' scheme

After US President Donald Trump introduced his "takeover" scheme for the Gaza Strip, which entails the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians recovering from the 15-month-long Israeli genocide, a wave of backlash swept the political scene as world leaders condemned and rejected the plot. 

Trump predicted the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, could become "the Riviera of the Middle East" as he announced his plan to seize the territory, even if it entails the ethnic cleansing of around 2.4 million people. 

"The Riviera of the Middle East. This could be something that could be so magnificent," Trump said at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at which he again voiced hopes that Palestinians could be forced out of their homeland and said the United States would redevelop the territory, which drew the ire of numerous countries the world over.

China

China rejected the "forced transfer" of Palestinians, reiterating Gaza and its people's sovereignty, as well as their right to self-governance, a statement by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian read.

"China has always maintained that Palestinian rule over Palestinians is the basic principle of the post-war governance of Gaza," Lin Jian stated.

France 

France, in a statement, rejected the proposition of a "third party" governing the Gaza Strip following the Israeli war. 

"France will continue to campaign for the implementation of the two-state solution, the only one that can guarantee long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike."

The Foreign Ministry then added that Gaza's future must not involve "control by a third state," rejecting the takeover plan. 

United Kingdom

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Wednesday said that Palestinians should be able to "live and prosper in their homelands," hitting back at US President Donald Trump's proposal to take over the Gaza Strip.

"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," he said speaking at a conference in Ukraine's capital Kiev.

On his part, Independent member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn blasted President Trump for hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is a wanted criminal under the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).