New York / PNN –
Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, called on world leaders and their nations to respect the Palestinian people's desire to remain in Gaza.
"Our homeland is our homeland. If part of it—Gaza—is destroyed, the Palestinian people have chosen to return to it," Mansour stated.
"I believe leaders and people must respect the will of the Palestinian people," he added.
Meanwhile, Hamas rejected recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, in which he called for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza. The group condemned the comments as "racist" and reflective of a "lack of moral and humanitarian standards," according to statements issued by several of its leaders after midnight on Tuesday-Wednesday.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the United States would take control of Gaza, following discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House regarding the ongoing war in the enclave and the conflict with Hamas.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference at the White House, Trump declared, "The United States will take control of the Gaza Strip, and we will be doing work there as well. We will own it. We will be responsible for clearing all unexploded bombs and other dangerous weapons in that location."
Trump further elaborated, "I envision long-term ownership, and I believe this will bring great stability to this part of the Middle East, perhaps to the entire region." He added, "This was not a decision taken lightly. Everyone I have spoken to loves the idea of the U.S. owning this piece of land."
The former president also pledged to visit Gaza, stating, "I love Israel. I will visit it, and I will visit Gaza. I will visit Saudi Arabia and other places across the Middle East," without providing a specific timeline for his trip.
Trump predicted that Gaza, home to more than two million Palestinians, could become "the Riviera of the Middle East," describing it as "something that could be truly spectacular." He reiterated his hope for the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza and for the U.S. to redevelop the area.
During his meeting with Netanyahu, Trump reaffirmed his call for the permanent displacement of Gaza’s residents, emphasizing his vision of moving them to a "safe place" and justifying it by stating that Gaza is "no longer livable and has been completely destroyed."
For his part, Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to achieving all the objectives of Israel’s war on Gaza, including securing the return of Israeli captives, eliminating Hamas, and ensuring the group no longer poses a threat to Israel.
Ahead of their meeting, Trump expressed the possibility of reaching a hostage exchange deal but acknowledged significant obstacles that could hinder its implementation. "There are many things that could go wrong, but the deal is possible," he said, emphasizing his desire to "bring back all hostages and fulfill Israel’s stated war objectives."
Trump’s comments mark his first official meeting with a foreign leader since taking office on January 20. Speaking to reporters late Tuesday night, he reinforced his stance on the permanent relocation of Gaza’s population, arguing that Palestinians in the enclave "should be resettled in other countries beyond Jordan and Egypt." He also reiterated his vision of transforming Gaza into a high-end tourist destination, stating, "Gaza could become a beautiful resort for sunbathing and relaxation."
