Pakistan on Thursday described U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to displace the residents of Gaza as “deeply troubling and unjust,” stressing any such attempts are a blatant violation of international law.
In a statement, the Foreign Office emphasized that Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people and “the only viable and just option is the two-state solution, in accordance with the U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
It noted that Pakistan had persistently stood by the people of Palestine in their just struggle for self-determination. Additionally, it stressed on the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“Any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land as well as to continue illegal settlements would be a blatant violation of the international law, and undermine the peace and security of the entire region,” it added.
“Pakistan reiterates its call for the return of all displaced Palestinians to their homes, including in Gaza; complete withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the occupied territories, upscaling of the humanitarian assistance and end to all obstructions, as well as concerted international efforts for the early reconstruction of Gaza,” it said.
Earlier this week, addressing a press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump had claimed the U.S. could “take over” Gaza to oversee its reconstruction. While the process was underway, he had said, the Palestinians could be relocated to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt. To a question, he had said he “hoped” the people of Gaza would “never” want to return to Palestine as it has “been hell for them.”
The remarks triggered widespread condemnations, with multiple countries slamming the proposal as a violation of international law. United Nation Secretary General Antonio Guterres said any such attempt would be akin to ethnic cleansing.