(Reuters) -President Donald Trump said the United States would take over the Gaza Strip after Palestinians are resettled elsewhere.
Here are some global reactions to the announcement.
SENIOR HAMAS OFFICIAL SAMI ABU ZUHRI
“Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass, and what is required is to end the (Israeli) occupation and aggression against our people, not to expel them from their land.”
SAUDI ARABIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
“Saudi Arabia rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has affirmed the kingdom’s position in ‘a clear and explicit manner’ that does not allow for any interpretation under any circumstances.”
BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER DAVID LAMMY
“On the issue of Gaza, Donald Trump is right. Looking at those scenes of Palestinians who have been horrendously displaced over so many months of war, it’s clear that Gaza is lying in rubble.
“We’ve always been clear in our belief that we must seek two states. We must see Palestinians able to live and prosper in their homelands, in Gaza, in the West Bank.”
FRANCE’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESPERSON CHRISTOPHE LEMOINE
“France reiterates its opposition to any forced displacement of the Palestinian population of Gaza, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, but also a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a major destabilising factor for our close partners Egypt and Jordan as well as for the entire region.”
SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER JOSE MANUEL ALBARES
“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.”
IRISH FOREIGN MINISTER SIMON HARRIS
“It’s very clear the direction of travel here, we need a two state solution, and the people of Palestine and the people of Israel both have a right to live in states safely side by side and that’s where the focus has to be. Any idea of displacing the people of Gaza anywhere else would be in clear contradiction with U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
EGYPT’S FOREIGN MINISTER BADR ABDELATTY
Abdelatty discussed with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa the importance of moving forward with recovery projects in Gaza without Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip.
PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD ABBAS AND THE PALESTINIAN LEADERSHIP
Abbas said the Palestinians will not relinquish their land, rights, and sacred sites, and that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
SENIOR IRANIAN OFFICIAL
“Iran does not agree with any displacement of Palestinians and has communicated this through various channels.”
KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV
Russia believes a settlement in the Middle East is only possible on the basis of a two-state solution. “This is the thesis that is enshrined in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolution, this is the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option.”
CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY
“China hopes all parties will take ceasefire and post-conflict governance as an opportunity to bring the Palestinian issue back on the right track of political settlement based on the two-state solution.”
TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER HAKAN FIDAN
U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on a plan to take over Gaza are “unacceptable”. Any plans leaving Palestinians “out of the equation” would lead to more conflict.
PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL HUSSEIN AL-SHEIKH
“The Palestinian leadership affirms its firm position that the two-state solution, in accordance with international legitimacy and international law, is the guarantee of security, stability and peace.”
ISLAMIC JIHAD
“Trump’s positions and plans are a dangerous escalation that threaten Arab and regional national security, especially in Egypt and Jordan, which the U.S. administration wants to put in confrontation with the Palestinian people and their rights.”
UK ENVIRONMENT MINISTER STEVE REED
“The UK government’s position … is that Palestinian civilians must be able to return to their homes and rebuild their lives. For those people, the last …months have been a living nightmare, and it’s important they’re able to go home after this to start to rebuild.
“They’ll need a lot of support from the international community to do that, but it’s the only way we’re going to get to the long-term solution for all of this, and a long-term peace, which is a two-state solution.”
AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE
“Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year. The Australian government supports on a bipartisan basis a two-state solution.”
DEMOCRATIC AND PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RASHIDA TLAIB
“Palestinians aren’t going anywhere. This president can only spew this fanatical bullshit because of bipartisan support in Congress for funding genocide and ethnic cleansing. It’s time for my two-state solution colleagues to speak up.”
(Compiled by Stephen Coates, Michael Perry and Ros Russell; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
