Donald Trump has been branded a ‘gangster’ by an MP in a tense Commons debate where the UK strongly rejected the US President’s plan to turn Gaza into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’
Donald Trump has been branded a “gangster” by an MP in a tense Commons debate where the UK strongly rejected the US President’s plan to “take over” Gaza.
The Labour government warned Palestinians must not be moved “against their will” in fierce opposition to Mr Trump’s wild idea for the US to turn the Gaza Strip into the “Riviera of the Middle East” and move Palestinians from the “demolition site” to neighbouring countries. Elsewhere an independent MP said Mr Trump was “behaving like a gangster” in his handling of Gaza’s future.
Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds strongly laid out the government’s position to oppose the “forced displacement” of Palestinians. She told MPs that they had a right to build their homes and lives under international law, echoing the PM’s words at Wednesday’s PMQs.
It comes as tens of thousands displaced by the brutal war began returning to their homes last month after being allowed back into the northern Gaza Strip on foot. Dramatic photos show families on their way back after checkpoints were opened as part of the ceasefire deal.
Responding to an urgent question on the issue in the Commons, Ms Dodds said: “Palestinians must determine the future of Gaza with support from regional states and the wider international community. We would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will. There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.
“Palestinian civilians should be able to return to and rebuild their homes and their lives – that is a right guaranteed under international law. Gaza is home to two million Palestinians and remains an integral part of what must become a future Palestinian state, with Palestinians living next to Israelis in peace and security.”
Ms Dodds said the US has played a “critical” role in negotiating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, adding: “We must now work together to ensure the ceasefire is implemented in full and becomes permanent.”
Independent MP for Leicester South Shockat Adam said Mr Trump was “behaving like a gangster” when it comes to the future of Gaza. He told MPs: “As we speak, mothers are looking for their children in the rubble whilst at the same time we have the most powerful man of the most powerful country in the world behaving like a gangster, talking about replacing these people from their land, replacing their homes with beachfront properties, creating casinos and a riviera.
“Is this the time, minister, where we categorically use the same words as we do for other conflicts and call this out for what it is, and that is the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people?”
Andy McDonald, who tabled Thursday’s question about Israel and the Occupied Territories, also described calls advocating for the expulsion of people as “ethnic cleansing”. The Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East told the Commons that Mr Trump had “emboldened” the Israeli Defence Minister, Israel Katz, to “further propose the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza”.
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Mr Katz said he has ordered the army to prepare plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip after hailing Mr Trump’s proposal for the war-ravaged territory. “I welcome President Trump’s bold plan, Gaza residents should be allowed the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is the norm around the world,” Mr Katz said on Twitter/X. He also suggested countries such as Spain, Ireland and Norway, which he claimed had “falsely accused” Israel over its actions in Gaza, should allow Gazans to live in their territory.
Mr Trump had suggested Palestinians could be relocated to countries including Egypt and Jordan. Both countries have rejected the idea. Egypt is said to have launched an diplomatic blitz behind the scenes to try and head off the plan.