How the world reacted to Trump's plan to 'level' and 'own' Gaza

It was announced in the manner of a real estate brochure, peppered with promises and adjectives. 

As if the Gaza Strip needed any more bombshells, the property developer turned U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his plan to "level" it and create "the Riviera of the Middle East." "This could be so magnificent," he enthused, an "international, unbelievable place," "something that could be phenomenal."

It's fair to say that not everybody has bought into the sales pitch. Understandably, many of the Palestinians currently finding their way back to what remains of their homes aren't assuaged by Trump insisting "Palestinians will live there. Many people will live there." 

Moreover, dozens of leaders worldwide have objected to Trump saying Gaza should come under Washington's "ownership." "The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip," he said. "We'll own it."

But who has said what in reaction to Trump's plan? 

MIDDLE EAST

Senior Hamas Official Sami Abu Zuhri: "Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass...What is required is to end the (Israeli) occupation and aggression against our people, not to expel them from their land."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas: "We will not allow the rights of our people, for which we have struggled for decades, to be infringed upon. These calls represent a serious violation of international law, and peace and stability in the region will not be achieved without the establishment of the Palestinian state."

PLO Secretary-General Hussein Al-Sheikh: "The Palestinian leadership affirms its firm position that the two-state solution, in accordance with international legitimacy and international law, is the guarantee of security, stability and peace."

Saudi Arabian Foreign Ministry: "Saudi Arabia rejects 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."

Jordanian Royal Court: "His Majesty King Abdullah II stresses the need to put a stop to (Israeli) settlement expansion, expressing rejection of any attempts to annex land and displace the Palestinians."

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan: "We oppose any attempt to expel Palestinians from their homeland. We are totally against this proposal. The roots of the Palestinian problem stem from the fact that they were forced to leave their homeland."

Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei: "The plan to clear Gaza and relocate Palestinians to neighboring countries is considered a continuation of the Zionist regime's (Israel) plan to completely wipe out the Palestinian people… This idea is categorically rejected and condemned due to its clear contradiction with established principles and rules of international law and human rights.

Islamic Jihad: "Trump's positions and plans are a dangerous escalation that threaten Arab and regional national security, especially in Egypt and Jordan, which the U.S. administration wants to put in confrontation with the Palestinian people and their rights."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: "This is the first good idea that I've heard. It's a remarkable idea, and I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued and done, because I think it will create a different future for everyone."

EUROPE

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock: "The civilian population of Gaza must not be expelled and Gaza must not be permanently occupied or repopulated…  A displacement of the Palestinian civilian population from Gaza would not only be unacceptable and in breach of international law, it would also lead to new suffering and new hatred… There must be no solution over the heads of the Palestinians."

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine: "France reiterates its opposition to any forced displacement of the Palestinian population of Gaza, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, but also a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a major destabilizing factor for our close partners Egypt and Jordan as well as for the entire region."

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares: "I want to be very clear on this: Gaza is the land of Gazan Palestinians and they must stay in Gaza. Gaza is part of the future Palestinian state Spain supports and has to coexist guaranteeing the Israeli state's prosperity and safety."

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "They (Palestinians) must be allowed home, they must be allowed to rebuild, and we should be with them in that rebuild on the way to a two-state solution."

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Harris: "It's very clear the direction of travel here: we need a two state solution, and the people of Palestine and the people of Israel both have a right to live in states safely side by side, and that's where the focus has to be. Any idea of displacing the people of Gaza anywhere else would be in clear contradiction with U.N. Security Council resolutions."

Russia President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov: "[A two-state solution] is the thesis enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolution, the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option."

GLOBAL

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun: "Gaza is the Gaza of Palestinians, an integral part of the Palestinian territory, not a political bargaining chip, let alone the target of a law of the jungle… China firmly supports the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people and has always believed that 'Palestinians governing Palestine' is an important principle that must be adhered to in the post-war governance of Gaza. It opposes the forced migration of Gaza residents. 

"China is willing to work with the international community to promote an early and fair political solution to the Palestinian issue with the 'two-state solution' as the fundamental way out, that is, to establish an independent Palestinian state with full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital."

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva: "It makes no sense ... Where would Palestinians live? This is something incomprehensible to any human being...Palestinians are the ones who need to take care of Gaza."

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "Australia's position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year. The Australian government supports on a bipartisan basis a two-state solution."

UN Human Rights Office: "It is crucial that we move towards the next phase of the ceasefire, to release all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, end the war and reconstruct Gaza, with full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited."