Trump's idea of mass deportation of Palestinians from Gaza is 'pure fantasy': UN rapporteur
The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing has dismissed US President Donald Trump's controversial plan for the mass deportation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as "pure fantasy."
Balakrishnan Rajagopal, in a press statement on Saturday, said forcibly deporting Gazans by American troops is not only impractical, but also, it would constitute "one of the greatest violations of international law in recent centuries."
Rajagopal pointed out the difficulties of achieving an effective reconstruction of Gaza as long as the Israeli forces continued to occupy the Palestinian land, threatening to restart a large-scale conflict.
In the meantime, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy have all backed a plan suggested by Egypt for the reconstruction of Gaza.
The foreign ministers of the top European countries issued a joint statement on Saturday, praising the Egyptian initiative that would ameliorate the “catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians.”
“The plan shows a realistic path to the reconstruction of Gaza and promises, if implemented, swift and sustainable improvement of the catastrophic living conditions for the Palestinians living in Gaza,” it stated.
Egypt’s plan stands in contrast to Trump's suggestion that the US military “take over” Gaza and forcibly transfer the Palestinians residents to neighboring Arab nations.
On Friday, during an emergency meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopted an Arab League counterproposal to Trump’s plan.
The decision by the 57-member OIC group came just three days after the Arab League had initially ratified the plan at a summit in Cairo, Egypt.
The OIC urged “the international community and international and regional funding institutions to swiftly provide the necessary support for the plan.”
The Egyptian-proposed Gaza reconstruction plan includes allocating $53 billion for rebuilding efforts and establishing a management committee to facilitate the Palestinian Authority’s return within six months.
Egypt’s proposal has been rejected by the Americans and Israelis, who are pressing for Trump's plan, which ensures Gaza's ethnic cleansing.
US, Israel eye Africa for displacing Palestinians from Gaza: Report
Columbia University expels, suspends pro-Palestine students
Ex-head of Israeli military intelligence welcomes 'chaos' in Syria
US says South African ambassador ‘no longer welcome’ over his criticism of Trump
Homeland Security agents arrest another pro-Palestinian protester from Columbia University
UN envoy slams Israel’s 'futile attempt' to justify atrocities by 'fabricating Islam-terrorism link'
Hamas says ready to free Israeli-US captive, bodies of four others
Iran: Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan border agreement ‘major step’ towards peace promotion
WFP to cut life-saving aid for one million people in Myanmar
80,000 Palestinians perform Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque despite Israeli restrictions
China says it opposes force, sanctions against Iran, calls on US to show 'political sincerity'
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
