World leaders react to Donald Trump’s Gaza ‘take over’ plan

World leaders have weighed in on Donald Trump’s radical plan to “take over” and “own” Gaza and “level” destroyed buildings - with Opposition leader Peter Dutton appearing to back the plan.

The opposition has indicated that it sees Donald Trump’s bold proposal for the Middle East as an effort to secure peace in the region.

Liberal Leader Peter Dutton believes Mr Trump’s approach is a strategic move aimed at ensuring that surrounding Arab nations contribute to resolving the crisis.

“He’s not become the president of the United States for a second time by being anything other than shrewd,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.

“You’ve seen it in his business life and the art of the deal is incredibly important to him, that both sides of the deal are contributing, that nobody’s ripping each other off. And I think there’s a desire for peace here from every reasonable person, and hopefully it can be achieved.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to a two-state solution in the Middle East.

“Australia will make our own decisions. Our position’s the same as when I woke up yesterday morning, which is: we support a two-state solution in the Middle East - the right of Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace and security side by side,” he said on 2GB.

He highlighted that Australia remains independent in its foreign policy decisions.

“We make our own decisions as a sovereign nation. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. One is, Australia determines our foreign policy. Our foreign policy remains the same,” he said on Sunrise.

“And secondly, that I’m not going to run a running commentary on the statements of the U.S. President on a day-to-day basis.”

Albanese also underlined the importance of preserving social harmony in Australia amid global tensions.

“One of the things that people don’t want in Australia, our multicultural, harmonious country, is for conflict to be brought here. People have a right to express their views, but that should be done peacefully and respectfully,” he said.

Similar words came from New Zealand’s Foreign Ministry. In a printed statement, the ministry said New Zealand’s “longstanding support for a two-state solution is on the record” and it would not be commenting “on every proposal that is put forward”.

Palestinians, Arab governments and world leaders have rejected US President Donald Trump’s shock proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and resettle its people, even as he insisted that “everybody loves” the idea.

Mr Trump made his initial announcement of the plan to audible gasps during a White House press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In a proposal that lacked details on how the United States could move out more than two million Palestinians or control Gaza, Mr Trump said he would make the territory “unbelievable” by redeveloping it after removing unexploded bombs and rubble.

“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” he said, adding that there was support from the “highest leadership” in the Middle East.

But hours later, Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, Egypt, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates hit back, as have China, Britain, France, Germany and the United Nations.

US President Donald Trump during a press conference with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese dismissed Mr Trump’s proposal as “utter nonsense”.

“It’s inciting to commit forced displacement, which is an international crime,” she said, during a visit to Copenhagen.

“It’s unlawful, immoral and... completely irresponsible because it will make the regional crisis even worse.

“This is going to generate panic across the world because it bears huge consequences.”

A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said it was “essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing”, while UN human rights chief Volker Turk said deporting people from occupied territory was “strictly prohibited” under international law.

Egypt and Jordan have rejected any resettlement from Gaza, with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty calling for a swift reconstruction “without the Palestinians leaving”.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II rejected “any attempts” to take control of Palestinian territories and displace people.

Riyadh said it would not formalise ties with Israel without a Palestinian state, while rejecting any “attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land”.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also lashed out, saying relocating Palestinians was something “neither we nor the region can accept”.

The UAE rejected “any attempts of displacement”, saying “regional stability can only be attained through the two-state solution”.

The EU said that it “took note” of Mr Trump’s comments on wanting to take control of Gaza, but insisted that a two-state solution was the “only path” to peace between Israel and Palestinians.

“Gaza is an integral part of a future Palestinian state,” a spokesman for the European Union said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Gazans “must be allowed home. They must be allowed to rebuild.” But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described Mr Trump’s plan as “very appealing”.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference with US President Donald Trump in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Picture: AFP

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Gaza “belongs to the Palestinians”, while Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “We are opposed to the forced transfer of the residents of Gaza.”

The Arab League said Mr Trump’s proposal was a “recipe for instability”.
Israeli human rights group B’Tselem described Mr Trump’s plan as “deranged and reprehensible” and a “moral stain on all involved”.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior official with Hamas, said the people of the Gaza Strip “will not allow these plans to pass”.

“What is required is an end to the occupation and aggression against our people, not their expulsion from their land,” he said.

Mr Trump’s remarks were “ridiculous” and “absurd” and could “destabilise the Middle East,” Mr Abu Zahri said.

The Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour, said people should respect the wishes of the people affected.

“Our homeland is our homeland, if part of it is destroyed, the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian people selected the choice to return to it. And I think that leaders and people should respect the wishes of the Palestinian people.”

While some Republican members of Congress distanced themselves from Mr Trump’s plans, some Democrats were vehemently opposed.

Congressman Tim Kaine said the plan was “deranged” and Congressman Chris Coons called it “offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish”.

Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour. Picture: AFP

A heightened US presence in the region was also “a magnet for trouble,” Mr Kaine said.

It came as the White House appeared to walk back elements of Mr Trump’s shock plan.

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said the Republican leader wanted Palestinians to be only “temporarily relocated” out of Gaza instead of permanently resettled in Arab-majority states like Egypt.

She also said the rebuilding of Gaza would not be paid for by the United States and that US troops were not likely to be sent.

“It’s been made very clear to the president that the United States needs to be involved in this rebuilding effort to ensure stability in the region for all people,” she said.

However, “that does not mean boots on the ground in Gaza, it does not mean American taxpayers will be funding this effort.”

- Agence France-Presse (AFP)

Originally published as World leaders react to Donald Trump’s Gaza ‘take over’ plan