Donald Trump has vowed that US would “take over” war ravaged Gaza and “own it”, effectively endorsing the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, in an announcement shocking even by the standards of his norm-shattering presidency, writes the Guardian’s David Smith.
President’s plan, which is low on detail, would involve the permanent resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries
At the press conference, in which hundreds of journalists crowded into the east room, the president was asked if the plan might involve US military force: "As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary, If it’s necessary, we’ll do that."
Netanyahu said: “it’s worth paying attention to this” idea and added that it’s “something that could change history”. Trump was “thinking outside the box with fresh ideas”, Netanyahu observed, and is “showing willingness to puncture conventional thinking.”
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Forced displacement of Gaza’s population would probably be a violation of international law and would be fiercely opposed not only in the region but also by America’s western allies. Some human rights advocates liken the idea to ethnic cleansing.
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri condemned Trump’s calls for Palestinians in Gaza to leave as “expulsion from their land”,
“We consider them a recipe for generating chaos and tension in the region because the people of Gaza will not allow such plans to pass.” -- and October 7 recipe... was not?
