MEZIESBLOG

Not all the reaction to Donald Trump’s Gaza comments have been negative.

The idea of resettling Palestinians in the territory elsewhere – with Trump claiming the US can take over and create a “Riviera” – has been welcomed, unsurprisingly, by far-right Israeli politicians such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir.

With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, Reuters news agency reports a political source in Israel said Trump came up with “ingenious solutions” to problems that have dogged the country since its inception. 

Netanyahu’s visit has been “very successful and surpassed all our expectations and dreams”, the source added.

While there has not been a large-scale poll in Israel to gauge a wider reaction to Trump’s comments, many may find the plan extreme. 

Most Israelis are focused on bringing home hostages remaining in Gaza – taken during Hamas’s attack on 7 October 2023 – and normalising relations with Saudi Arabia and other countries.

These objectives may appear less likely if Trump presses ahead with his proposal.

But Jerusalem resident Robby Davidson said he “loved” the plan as it would guarantee “no danger to us there in the south”.

UN warns against ‘forcible transfer’ in Gaza

Any forcible transfer from occupied territory breaches international law, the UN Human Rights Office has said in response to Donald Trump’s idea to take over Gaza.

The US president suggested Palestinians there should leave, with a “Riviera” created on the territory.

Many world leaders have already spoken out against the proposal, and the UN has joined them in opposition.

“It is crucial that we move towards the next phase of the ceasefire, to release all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, end the war and reconstruct Gaza, with full respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” the UNHR said in a statement to Reuters news agency.

“Any forcible transfer in or deportation of people from occupied territory is strictly prohibited.”