United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday, March 12, vowed that no Palestinians would be expelled from the besieged Gaza Strip.
Trump’s comments come after Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said last weekend that Tel Aviv would open a new “Emigration Authority” office under the Defense Ministry to manage the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.
He said the plan has the support of the Trump administration.
Recall that Trump reiterated in February his controversial proposal to take control of Gaza despite rejection from some European countries.
The US leader said he is committed to “owning” the war-ravaged enclave, Gaza, amid the fight between Israel and Hamas, a Palestinian militant group
“Nobody is expelling any Palestinians,” Trump said in response to a reporter’s question as he hosted Irish leader Micheál Martin in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Arab leaders have rejected Trump’s plan, presenting a plan of their own which the US administration has rejected.