Donald Trump has drawn widespread condemnation over his plan for the US to "take over" Gaza (Reuters: Kent Nishimura)
In short:
Donald Trump's plan for the US to "take over" Gaza and create a create a "Riviera of the Middle East" has led to condemnation from world leaders.
International powers say the move, which would see Palestinians resettled, could lead to "new suffering and new hatred" in the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr Trump for attempting a new approach.
Donald Trump's plan for the US to "take over" Gaza and redevelop it once Palestinians had been resettled elsewhere has drawn widespread condemnation from world leaders.
The president said during a White House press conference on Tuesday he foresaw a "long-term ownership position" for America and that the strip could be transformed into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
The shock move by Mr Trump, a former New York property developer, from international powers including Russia, China and Germany, which said it would bring "new suffering and new hatred" in the war-torn country.
Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia also rejected the proposal outright.
Key takeaways from Trump's press conference with Netanyahu
Photo shows Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold a joint press conference.
Mr Trump outlined few specifics when he unveiled the move at a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday night. Mr Netanyahu, meanwhile, praised the president for attempting a new approach to the long-running conflict.
Egypt, Jordan and a number of Arab nations have said they strongly oppose any attempt to push Palestinians over the border.
Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said in a statement it rejected "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."
The US president told reporters that he believed Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who he has discussed the plan with, would come around to the idea despite their rejections.
Meanwhile, Turkiye has called the move "unacceptable".
Fears plan could cause 'new suffering and new hatred'
China and Russia have voiced criticism of the approach.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow backed a two-state solution, a call which was echoed by the Chinese foreign ministry.
China and Russia are among countries backing Palestinian sovereignty over Gaza. (Reuters: Maxim Shemetov/Pool)
A number of America's allies in Europe have also underlined their support for a two-state solution to the conflict.
Germany's foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said the plan would "lead to new suffering and new hatred".
In parliament on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer appeared to disagree with Mr Trump's plan and said Palestinians "must be allowed to home".
"They must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution," he said.
Keir Starmer is reiterating the UK government's support for a two-state solution. (AP: Omar Havana)
France's foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said the plan "would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians" and be 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 said "Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians and they must stay in Gaza."
The 15 months of war between Israel and militant group Hamas killed 47,000 people in Gaza, and left millions more displaced.
The conflict was sparked after Hamas militants attacked Israeli communities on October 7, 2023, killing at least 1,200 people and taking at least 250 hostages.
Reuters
