World Leaders Condemn Trump’s Plan to Occupy and Relocate Palestinians from Gaza

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Donald Trump's proposal for the United States to "take over" Gaza while forcibly relocating its Palestinian population has sparked widespread condemnation from world leaders, human rights organizations, and legal experts. The suggestion, described by critics as a form of ethnic cleansing, has been met with calls for adherence to international law and a commitment to a two-state solution.

During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump claimed that Palestinians “would love to leave” Gaza and proposed that the U.S. assume control over the war-torn enclave. In response to the backlash, Trump's top officials attempted to soften his remarks. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that any relocation would be "temporary" while Gaza was being rebuilt. However, Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, did not clarify whether the administration had abandoned the idea of permanent displacement.

Palestinian leaders swiftly rejected the proposal, emphasizing that Gaza is an integral part of their homeland. President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed that “we will not allow any infringement of the rights of our people,” while the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas denounced the idea as “absurd” and a violation of international law. Palestinian civilians, many of whom have already lost family members and homes due to Israeli airstrikes, vowed to remain in Gaza, despite the dire conditions.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned against “any form of ethnic cleansing” and stressed that international law prohibits forced deportation from occupied territories. Amnesty International labeled Trump’s remarks as “inflammatory, outrageous, and shameful,” while Human Rights Watch described the plan as a “moral abomination.”

Numerous nations and international figures have spoken out against Trump’s statements, reaffirming their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians and their support for a two-state solution. Below is a summary of key global reactions:

Middle East and North Africa

• Palestinian Authority: President Mahmoud Abbas stated, “We will not allow any infringement of the rights of our people, which we have struggled for decades and made great sacrifices to achieve.”

• Hamas: Senior official Sami Abu Zuhri called the proposal “a recipe for generating chaos” and emphasized that Palestinians “will not allow such plans to pass.”

• Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO): Secretary-General Hussein al-Sheikh rejected all calls for displacement and reaffirmed the PLO’s support for a two-state solution.

• Egypt: Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any forced displacement and discussed recovery projects in Gaza with Palestinian officials.

• Saudi Arabia: The Saudi Foreign Ministry stated, “We reject any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land” and reaffirmed its demand for a Palestinian state.

• Jordan: King Abdullah II opposed any displacement efforts and condemned settlement expansion, calling for a two-state solution.

• Iran: Iranian officials rejected any displacement of Palestinians and warned against U.S. involvement in the region.

Europe

• United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated, “They [Palestinians] must be allowed home, they must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution.”

• Germany: Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock declared that Gaza “belongs to the Palestinian people,” calling expulsion “unacceptable and contrary to international law.”

• France: Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine warned that forced displacement would be a major destabilizing factor for the region and a violation of international law.

• Spain: Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated, “Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians, and they must stay in Gaza.”

• Ireland: Foreign Minister Simon Harris emphasized that displacement contradicts UN Security Council resolutions and reiterated support for a two-state solution.

North America

• United States: Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen condemned Trump’s remarks as “ethnic cleansing by another name,” while Representative Rashida Tlaib declared, “Palestinians aren’t going anywhere.” The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) stated, “Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people, not the United States.”

• Canada: Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to a two-state solution and stated that Palestinians should not be forcibly displaced from Gaza.

Latin America

• Brazil: President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called Trump’s proposal “incomprehensible” and insisted that “Palestinians are the ones who need to take care of Gaza.”

Asia

• China: The Chinese Foreign Ministry opposed the forced transfer of Palestinians and called for a return to political negotiations for a two-state solution.

• Russia: Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated, “Practicing a policy of collective punishment is a method that Russia rejects.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reiterated that a two-state solution is the only viable resolution.

• Turkey: Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called Trump’s comments “unacceptable” and warned that excluding Palestinians from any settlement process would fuel further conflict.
  

Australia and Oceania

• Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reaffirmed support for a two-state solution but declined to directly comment on Trump’s proposal.
  

Human Rights Groups and Legal Experts Weigh In

Amnesty International's Secretary-General Agnès Callamard stated that Trump’s proposal “amounts to a flagrant violation of international law.” Human Rights Watch warned that forced displacement from occupied territories is “strictly prohibited” under international law and could constitute a war crime or crime against humanity under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute.

Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, called Trump’s plan “unlawful, immoral, and completely irresponsible,” adding that it could incite a broader regional crisis.

Despite attempts by Trump administration officials to backtrack on his remarks, the widespread condemnation from the international community underscores the gravity of the situation. Palestinian leaders and global organizations continue to reject the proposal, calling instead for adherence to international law and the pursuit of a two-state solution as the only path toward lasting peace.

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