 "Hamas says Trump's Gaza takeover plan a 'declaration of intent to occupy', calls for ugent Arab summit")
Hamas on Thursday said that US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza is a “declaration of intent to occupy” the Palestinian region.
The terrorist group’s spokesman Hazem Qassem also called for “an urgent Arab summit to confront the displacement project” of Gazans from the Strip.
Earlier this week, Trump proposed moving Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip after the Israel-Hamas war comes to an end. His claims came as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who became the first foreign leader to have met POTUS after his reelection.
On Thursday, he reiterated his claim on Truth Social, saying, “The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting.”
His suggestion invited immediate gasps from leaders across the world who slammed Trump for the outlandish idea. The United Nations warned that any forced displacement of Palestinians would be “tantamount to ethnic cleansing”.
The Republican leader insisted “everybody loves” the plan, saying it would involve the United States taking over Gaza.
Meanwhile, Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the idea “was not meant to be hostile,” while the White House said there was no commitment to sending US troops and that any displacement of Palestinians would be “temporary.”
The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump had surprised both his own staff and the Israelis with the “hastily-written” plan for Gaza, with no discussions with the Pentagon or the State Department.
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More ShortsIsrael army takes words to action
Meanwhile, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the army on Thursday to prepare for “voluntary” departures from the Gaza Strip.
Katz said that he had instructed the military to formulate a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza, which has been ravaged by more than a year of war.
“I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare a plan to enable voluntary departure for Gaza residents,” Katz said, adding that they could go “to any country willing to accept them”.
“The plan will include exit options through land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air,” he added, branding Trump’s plan as “bold”.
With inputs from agencies
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