French President Emmanuel Macron and President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi of Egypt warned on Wednesday that any forced displacement of the Palestinian population in Gaza or the West Bank would be unacceptable, the Elysee announced.
During a telephone call, they stated that such action would be a serious violation of international law, an obstacle to the two-state solution, and a major destabilising factor for Egypt and Jordan, where these populations could be sent, according to a statement from the French presidency.
Both presidents reiterated their commitment to working towards a lasting ceasefire and a credible solution for Gaza that paves the way for a political resolution based on the two-state solution.
US President Donald Trump had caused shock on Tuesday by announcing that the United States would “take control” of Gaza, speaking of the “permanent” relocation of Palestinians from the war-torn territory and expressing his desire to turn it into the “French Riviera of the Middle East.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later clarified that President Trump only wanted the Palestinians to leave Gaza temporarily during its reconstruction.
The White House also sought to downplay Trump's remarks, explaining that the United States would not fund the reconstruction of Gaza and that no US troops would be sent to the territory.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army has been conducting deadly operations for several weeks.
