Trump's Gaza 'takeover' scheme sparks global backlash, rejection
5 Min Read
Leaders of countries across the globe are firmly rejecting Donald Trump's ethnic cleansing plot of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
-
Displaced Palestinians arrive in the northern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. (AP)
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.
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).
He then slammed the UK, saying, "Now would be a good time for our government to defend international law."
Corbyn then declared his rejection of Trump's scheme, saying, "Palestinians aren’t going anywhere."
The President of the United States welcome a leader wanted by the ICC and officially endorsed ethnic cleansing.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) February 5, 2025
Now would be a good time for our government to defend international law.
If they won’t say it, we will: Palestinians aren’t going anywhere.
Scotland
John Swinney, the first minister of Scotland, slammed Trump's statements as "unacceptable and dangerous."
He condemned the collective punishment and suffering Palestinians in Gaza endured throughout the Israeli war on the territory, as well as the astronomical death toll, saying any suggestion to displace Palestinians from their home is intolerable.
Swinney claimed that the "two-state" solution would manifest "lasting peace" instead.
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.
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) February 5, 2025
There must be no ethnic cleansing.
Only a proper two state solution will bring lasting peace.
Germany
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that the Gaza Strip belongs to Palestinians and slammed plans for their expulsion would be "unacceptable" and "contrary to international law."
"It would also lead to new suffering and new hatred," said Baerbock in a statement, adding, "There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians."
Russia
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Wednesday that Trump's remarks about displacing Palestinians from Gaza are a manifestation of the West's "abolitionist policy".
"The 'policy of abolition' is particularly evident now, including the abolition of international law... on the situation in the Middle East, when the Security Council resolutions that were recognized by everyone without exception as a necessary basis for working on the creation of a Palestinian state were simply canceled," he said in a meeting of the heads of diplomatic missions in Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov also stated that the Kremlin is aware of both US President Donald Trump's remarks regarding a potential relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the rejection of this proposal by Middle Eastern countries.
Peskov told reporters that Russia’s stance on resolving the Middle East issue remains unchanged, claiming that it can only be achieved through a "two-state" solution.
Spain
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares dismissed Trump's plot to forcibly displace Palestinians and assume control of Gaza to transform it into a "Riviera of the Middle East."
"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," Albares stated.
Turkiye
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated on Wednesday that Donald Trump's remarks were "unacceptable", emphasizing that any proposal excluding Palestinians from consideration would only fuel the struggle further.
In an interview for the state-owned Anadolu news agency, Fidan noted that Turkiye would reconsider its actions against the Israeli occupation—such as halting trade and recalling its ambassador—if the killing of Palestinians ceased and their living conditions improved.
Read more: Palestinian officials, factions condemn Trump Gaza plot
