Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday criticised what it called a “shocking” plan proposed by U.S President Donald Trump to take control Gaza and “forcibly displace” Palestinians.
“The plan to clear Gaza and forcibly displace the Palestinian people to neighbouring countries is considered a continuation of the Zionist regime’s (Israel) targeted plan to completely annihilate the Palestinian nation, and is categorically rejected and condemned,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei.
Mr. Trump on Tuesday declared “the U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it”.
Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr. Trump talked about “permanently” moving Palestinians out of Gaza.
The plan sparked uproar from Arab governments and world leaders, with the United Nations warning against “ethnic cleansing” in the Palestinian territory.
The Trump administration appeared to backtrack Wednesday on the President’s comments, with Washington’s top diplomat saying any transfer of Gazans would be temporary.
Mr. Baqaei described Mr. Trump’s plan as “an unprecedented attack on the fundamental principles and foundations of international law and the United Nations Charter.”
He further called on the international community to recognise “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and liberate them from… occupation and apartheid.”
