1 / 12President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to “take over” Gaza and resettle Palestinians was swiftly rejected by both allies and adversaries. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump suggested transforming Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” pledging US involvement in clearing debris, dismantling weapons, and driving economic development. His remarks came amid a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, during which hostages were being exchanged for prisoners. Here’s how world leaders reacted to Trump’s comments:
2 / 12Egypt Rejects Trump’s Gaza Plan | Egypt’s Foreign Ministry swiftly dismissed Trump’s proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, emphasising that any reconstruction efforts must take place without displacing its residents. Cairo reaffirmed its stance that Gaza’s future must be decided by its people, not external powers. (Image: Shutterstock)
3 / 12Saudi Arabia Reaffirms Commitment to Palestinian Statehood | Saudi Arabia issued a firm rejection of Trump’s suggestion, calling it an unacceptable violation of Palestinian rights. The kingdom reiterated its unwavering support for a two-state solution and strongly condemned any plans to forcibly move Palestinians from their homeland. Riyadh warned that such proposals could further destabilise the region. (Image: Shutterstock)
4 / 12Australia Stands by Two-State Solution | Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed clear frustration when asked about Trump’s proposal, reaffirming that Australia’s position remains unchanged. “Our stance is the same as it was this morning, last year, and a decade ago,” he stated, dismissing the idea of US control over Gaza and reiterating support for a negotiated two-state solution.
5 / 12Britain Opposes Forced Displacement of Palestinians | British Foreign Office Minister Anneliese Dodds made it clear that the UK would not support any effort to forcibly move Palestinians from Gaza. “There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip,” she told parliament, signaling Britain’s opposition to Trump’s remarks and reinforcing the need for a diplomatic solution. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 12China Calls for Stability and Dialogue | Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian underscored Beijing’s opposition to forced relocation, emphasising that peace in Gaza should be achieved through diplomatic means. “We oppose the forced displacement of people in Gaza and hope that the relevant parties will use this ceasefire as an opportunity to return to a peaceful path,” he stated, urging international cooperation on post-war governance. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 12Turkey Labels Trump’s Gaza Plan ‘Absurd’ | Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan dismissed Trump’s proposal as completely unrealistic, stating that “deportations from Gaza are not something that either the region or we would accept.” He warned that such an idea would inflame tensions and was fundamentally at odds with international efforts to stabilise the region. “Even thinking about it is wrong and absurd,” Fidan added. (Image: Reuters)
8 / 12France Warns Against Violating International Law | France strongly condemned Trump’s suggestion, warning that any forced displacement of Palestinians would constitute a serious violation of international law. “This would be an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and a major destabilising factor for our close partners Egypt and Jordan,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine. Paris reiterated that Gaza’s future should be determined within the framework of an independent Palestinian state. (Image: Shutterstock)
9 / 12Russia Stands by UN-Backed Two-State Solution | Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Trump’s idea as contrary to global diplomatic efforts, reiterating that Russia continues to support a two-state solution. “This is the thesis enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions, and it remains the only viable path to lasting peace,” Peskov stated. He noted that the overwhelming majority of the international community shares this position, making Trump’s proposal an outlier. (Image: Reuters)
10 / 12Brazil’s Lula Rejects ‘Incomprehensible’ Plan | Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised Trump’s Gaza proposal as both unrealistic and dangerous, arguing that “no country, no matter how important, can fight the entire world all the time.” He questioned where the displaced Palestinians would go and reiterated his stance that “Palestinians are the ones who need to take care of Gaza.” Lula also repeated his previous denunciation of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as “genocide.” (Image: AP)
11 / 12Palestinian Leaders Denounce Trump’s Proposal | Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned Trump’s suggestion, calling for the United Nations to protect Palestinian sovereignty and prevent any forced displacement. Hamas, which has been engaged in ongoing hostilities with Israel, labeled the plan a “recipe for chaos,” accusing the US of rewarding Israel instead of holding it accountable for what it calls war crimes. “This is not a solution—it is an escalation,” Hamas stated. (Image: Reuters)
12 / 12US Lawmakers Slam Trump’s Proposal as ‘Insane’ | Trump’s idea was met with immediate backlash from opposition lawmakers in the United States. Democratic Senator Chris Coons called it “offensive and insane and dangerous and foolish,” warning that such rhetoric could damage America’s credibility on the world stage. Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian-American member of Congress, went even further, accusing Trump of openly advocating for ethnic cleansing. “Instead of supporting Palestinian self-determination, he wants to erase Gaza’s people and history,” she wrote on social media. (Image: Reuters)
