UN chief rejects US-backed plan to displace Palestinians

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
10 Feb 2025 23:02

During a UN briefing on Monday, spokesperson Farhan Haq reaffirmed the UN's rejection of any policy aimed at uprooting Gaza's residents.

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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, January 18, 2025. (AP)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has firmly denounced any attempt to forcefully remove Palestinians from Gaza, following US President Donald Trump's proposal to permanently displace the Strip's population. Trump's statement, in which he asserted that Palestinians should not be allowed to return to their homeland, has sparked outrage, fueling concerns that the United States and "Israel" are advancing a plan of ethnic cleansing in Gaza.

During a UN briefing on Monday, spokesperson Farhan Haq reaffirmed the UN's rejection of any policy aimed at uprooting Gaza's residents. In response to Trump's comments, Haq stated, "Obviously, the secretary-general does not agree with anything that would involve the forced displacement of the population." He also pointed out that Guterres had previously warned that no resolution for Palestinians should involve ethnic cleansing, making clear that any move to erase Palestinians from Gaza would be a grave violation of international law.

Trump's remarks, made earlier that day, dismissed Palestinians' right to return to their homes, advocating instead for their permanent resettlement in foreign countries. His statement aligns with long-standing Israeli efforts to depopulate Gaza and block any future Palestinian sovereignty over their land. Palestinian leaders and human rights groups have condemned the proposal, warning that it mirrors Zionist policies of mass expulsion that began in 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their homes.

The international response has been overwhelmingly negative. Arab nations, including Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, have outright rejected Trump's proposal, stressing that any forced displacement of Palestinians would be an act of war and a blatant violation of their national rights.

European governments, including Germany, France, and the UK, have also expressed concern, stating that Palestinians must be able to return to their homeland and reclaim their land. Meanwhile, human rights organizations have described Trump's proposal as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing, warning that the US and "Israel" are attempting to redraw the region's demographics in a way that permanently displaces Palestinians from their rightful homes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on his part, has openly welcomed Trump's suggestion, viewing it as a strategic opportunity to permanently rid Gaza of its Palestinian population. Netanyahu's endorsement has deepened tensions with Egypt, which has accused "Israel" of deliberately obstructing diplomatic efforts to stabilize Gaza in order to justify continued aggression and land seizure.

Earlier today, Egyptian mediators warned that the current ceasefire in Gaza is at risk of collapsing due to "Israel's" ongoing violations of the agreement, including restrictions on humanitarian aid and continued military aggression against Palestinians.