Former Turkish PM suggests that Gaza become Turkish territory
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Turkiye's former prime minister suggests holding a referendum to see if the Palestinians would like Gaza to become autonomous Turkish land until the establishment of a Palestinian state.
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Turkish former prime minister and opposition Future Party leader Ahmet Davutoglu speaks to the media outside the parliament, on May 26, 2021. (AP)
Former Prime Minister of Turkiye Ahmet Davutoglu suggested holding a referendum in the Gaza Strip on whether it should become an autonomous Turkish territory "until a Palestinian state is established" arguing that Gaza was historically part of Turkiye.
"Turkiye, as the legitimate successor of the Ottoman Empire, should treat the people of Gaza as friends throughout history and fellow citizens," Davutoglu said, "Let the people of Gaza hold a referendum and join Turkiye as an autonomous region until a Palestinian state is established. The decision is up to the people of Gaza."
The leader of the opposition Future Party supported his proposal by saying that the Gaza Strip was a legitimate part of the Ottoman Empire and that the British Mandate and "Israel's" occupation of it were both illegal.
Trump plans takeover of Gaza
Trump declared last week that the United States could take over Gaza and turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East" during a meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu, triggering worldwide outrage at the plan which many considered ethnic cleansing.
The US president said that he would convince Egypt and Saudi Arabia to take the Palestinians in, while Netanyahu said that Saudi Arabia could take the forcibly displaced Palestinians and create a Palestinian state on Saudi land.
Trump then announced on Monday that the Palestinians would not have the right to return to Gaza, saying that they're going to have much better housing elsewhere, as his plan includes building multiple resettlement sites outside of Gaza.
King Abdullah II of Jordan discussed with Trump the future of Gaza and the displacement of Palestinians, with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi expected to meet Trump as well in Washington soon.
The United Nations condemned the US plan, with Chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry Navi Pillay telling Politico, "Trump is woefully ignorant of international law and the law of occupation. Forcible displacement of an occupied group is an international crime, and amounts to ethnic cleansing."
Five Arab foreign ministers and a senior Palestinian official denounced Trump's idea, sending a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio proposing that they get involved with the reconstruction process of the Gaza Strip.
Egypt's Foreign Ministry countered Trump's idea with its own proposal that's focused on rebuilding the Gaza Strip while keeping the Palestinians in their homeland, adding, "Any solution to the Palestinian cause must take into account avoiding jeopardizing peace gains in the region."
