Washington, Feb 6: Human rights organization, Amnesty International, said Donald Trump's proposal to move Palestinians from Gaza was "inflammatory, outrageous and shameful" and amounted to a "flagrant violation of international law,” Roshni Majumdar wrote in Deutsche Welle.
"Any plan to forcibly deport Palestinians outside the occupied territory against their will is a war crime," Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnes Callamard told Reuters news agency.
Trump raised the possibility of bringing Gaza under US "ownership" at a press conference earlier in the week, shocking even senior members of his administration, according to the New York Times.
The plan sparked widespread international condemnation.
European Union says Gaza integral part of Palestinian state
The European Union said on Wednesday that it acknowledged US President Donald Trump's comments on wanting to "take over" of Gaza but insisted its commitment to a two-state solution.
"Gaza is an integral part of a future Palestinian state," said a spokesman in Brussels, adding the bloc's voice to the almost global condemnation of Trump's remarks.
"We took note of President Trump's comments. The EU remains firmly committed to a two-state solution, which we believe is the only path to long-term peace for both Israelis and Palestinians."
Gaza residents say no to US plan
US President Donald Trump's statement on the future of Gaza has added to an already complicated reality in the region. "They (statements) are extremely dangerous. It is impossible for us to leave our land. The people of Gaza and I will never leave Gaza," Ahmad Shehab told DW on the phone from Jabalia in northern Gaza.
Some expressed shock in conversations and resented the idea that, once again, others were determining the future of Gaza without the Palestinians having a say.
Overnight, Trump told visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the US would "take over" the Gaza Strip and that he wanted to "relocate" all Palestinians to third countries. He did not explain how and under what authority the United States would be able to take control of Gaza.
Attempts to alter narrative
The White House and the US Secretary of State on Wednesday appeared to try to alter the narrative after President Donald Trump said the United States would "take over" the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle its residents, Majumdar wrote.
During a media briefing at the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump "has made it clear that they need to be temporarily relocated out of Gaza."
This seems to contradict what Trump said during his media briefing on Tuesday after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what's happening in Gaza," Trump said at the time, reported DW.
Trump also said, "It should not go through a process of rebuilding and occupation by the same people that have... lived there and died there and lived a miserable existence there."
Leavitt told reporters Trump did not promise to send US troops to Gaza. He wanted to be involved in the rebuilding of Gaza "to ensure stability in the region," she said. "That does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza," she added.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking while visiting Guatemala City, described Trump's proposal to redevelop Gaza into "the riviera of the Middle East" as a "generous" offer. "It was not meant as a hostile move," Rubio said.