Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has vehemently denounced as “bizarre” and “unacceptable” former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “take over” the Gaza Strip. “A two-state solution is the only way to achieve sustainable peace in West Asia, fulfilling the aspirations of the Palestinian people while ensuring Israel’s security,” Ramesh said in his disapproving statement of X. He has called on the Modi administration to make clear where it stands on the issue.
According to Trump’s plan, the United States will occupy Gaza, dismantle its armaments, demolish its damaged structures, and promote economic growth. Trump maintained that Gaza should be rebuilt, possibly resembling a “riviera of the Middle East,” since it is currently a “demolition site” as a result of Israeli military action.
Reactions to the proposal have been seen worldwide. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, called Trump’s approach “ridiculous and absurd,” cautioning that it might cause regional instability. Abdel Latif al-Qanou, a spokesman for Hamas, claimed that the United States’ position supports the Israeli extreme right in uprooting Palestinians and destroying their cause.
Hussein al-Sheikh, the secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), vetoed any plans to uproot Palestinians. Riyad Mansour, the leader of the Palestinian UN delegation, pushed for the return of Gaza’s Palestinians to their “original homes” in Israel.
Since then, the White House has played down Trump’s plan, stating that he has not committed any troops or money to it. According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the President has not promised to send troops to Gaza, but the United States will collaborate with regional partners to rebuild the area.
