President Donald Trump’s plan for America to take over war-torn Gaza and create a ‘Riviera of the Middle East’ after resettling Palestinians elsewhere has shattered US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sparked widespread criticism.
The shock move from Trump, a former New York property developer, was swiftly condemned by international powers, with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, which Trump hopes will establish ties with Israel, rejecting the plan outright.
Türkiye called the proposal ‘unacceptable’ and France said it risked destabilising the Middle East.
Countries from Russia, China, Germany, Spain, Ireland and the UK said they continued to support the two-state solution that has formed the basis of Washington’s policy in the region for decades, which has held that Gaza would be part of a future Palestinian state that includes the occupied West Bank.
Trump, in his first major Middle East policy announcement, said he envisioned building a resort where international communities could live in harmony after more than 15 months of Israeli bombardment devastated the tiny coastal enclave and killed 47,000 people, by Palestinian tallies.
Trump’s son-in-law and former aide, Jared Kushner, last year described Gaza as ‘valuable’ waterfront property.
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