More than 100 organizations have issued a joint statement rejecting the forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza after United States President Donald Trump unveiled plans to take ownership of the besieged enclave.
In a TV interview aired on Feb 10, Trump also threatened to cancel the cease-fire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas if all Israeli captives were not released by Feb 15.
Hamas on Feb 10 announced a delay to the next release of Israeli hostages on Feb 15, alleging that Israel had violated the cease-fire agreement, including targeting Palestinians and conducting air strikes in Gaza. Israel also accused Hamas of violating agreements.
Trump said “we’ll build beautiful communities for the 1.9 million people” and “safe communities away from the danger” in the interview with Fox News.
ALSO READ: Trump says Palestinians won't have right to return once relocated
He added that there would be no right of return for Palestinians under the plan because they would have “better housing” amid plans to build “a permanent place for them”.
Trump also warned it would take years to rebuild Gaza.
In response to Trump’s comments, several organizations — including CODEPINK, Jewish Voice for Peace Action, the UNRWA USA National Committee, and Doctors Against Genocide — released a joint statement on Feb 10.
The statement signed by Christian, Muslim, and Jewish groups reiterated that the forcible displacement of civilians “is a violation of international humanitarian law, including under Article 49(1) of the Fourth Geneva Convention, to which both the US and Israel are party”.
“The United States has no right to dictate to the Palestinian people in Gaza to leave and direct other countries to participate in their displacement. We are also aware that even a temporary external displacement could be used by Israel to enact permanent exile,” the statement said.
The groups agreed that the short and medium-term humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza “may be difficult to meet given the nearly complete destruction that Israel has wrought”.
ALSO READ: As rainstorm and Trump blow through Gaza, residents say they will never leave
However, they said if the necessary services cannot be provided in Gaza, its people “must be able to access them elsewhere within the historic borders of Palestine and must be able to return”.
Ayman Yousef, a professor of international relations at the Arab American University in Jenin in the West Bank, said Trump’s plan “is not practical at all” as the Palestinians are the original inhabitants of this land, so they would not buy their land from a leader such as Trump.
“I think this idea reflects Trump’s shallow thought,” Yousef said, noting that it might also be an attempt to test the waters.
“He wants to see the reaction of the Palestinians, the Arabs. He wants to see the reaction of Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia so that he can, in the future, lay down the foundation of future US policy in the Middle East,” he added.
Yousef also said he thought Trump wanted to send a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to encourage him to go further with the political deal with Hamas and the deal of continuing the exchange of prisoners.
He added that Trump’s Gaza plan reflected his political personality as well as an effort to send messages to the Israelis, Palestinians, and regional powers.
Abdul Wahed Jalal Nori, an analyst and lecturer at the Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies at the International Islamic University Malaysia, told China Daily that Trump’s plan violates international law, particularly the right of return, and risks being labeled as “ethnic cleansing”.
ALSO READ: Netanyahu says Trump 'determined' on Gaza takeover plan
He said it also undermines regional stability, as Egypt and Jordan oppose hosting displaced Palestinians, and could derail peace efforts by disregarding Palestinian aspirations.
“This move will set a dangerous precedent for forced displacement, escalating conflict and radicalization, and straining US diplomatic relations with allies,” said Abdul Wahed, who wrote State-building under Foreign Occupation: The Case of Iraq 2003-2008.
“Overall, it will definitely threaten global stability and Middle East peace by fueling resentment and eroding international norms. Trump and Netanyahu's arrogance will ultimately lead to their own downfall,” he said.
Abdul Wahed expressed doubt that the US will be able to invade Gaza as it fails to understand the Palestinian mindset.
“These people are prepared to sacrifice everything. Denying Gazans the right to return would mean their complete eradication, something they will never accept. I don't think Trump understands the mindset of the Palestinians,” said Abdul Wahed.
He added that Trump “is very clear in his belief” that there is no distinct Palestinian people or state and everything belongs to Israel, leaving Palestinians “no option but to resist”.
The joint statement also said the groups are extremely alarmed by an uptick in settler violence and IDF (Israel Defense Forces) operations in the West Bank that have resulted in scores of Palestinian casualties.
It said these actions “are part and parcel of a strategy that seeks to make not just Gaza, but all Palestinian areas across historic Palestine, unlivable for the Palestinian people”, thereby contributing to a process of “ethnic cleansing”.
READ MORE: Trump says he is 'committed to buying and owning Gaza'
“Palestine is not just an idea — it is a place. It is a homeland to the Palestinian people,” the statement said.
“To participate in, facilitate, or endorse their removal from it would violate every precept of international law, devastate the rules-based international order that protects us all, do irreversible harm to America’s global influence, and be an act of unconscionable immorality,” it added.
