UN chief warns against ethnic cleansing after Trump says US will ‘own’ Gaza

While US President Donald Trump’s remarks about the "takeover" of Gaza sparked global outrage, the United Nations also sounded the alarm over his controversial statement, emphasising the need to "avoid ethnic cleansing."

During a UN committee meeting, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated, "In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing."

He also underscored the importance of pursuing a two-state solution for Palestine.

European countries, along with the Arab allies of the US in the Middle East, strongly condemned Trump’s remarks, particularly his suggestion of removing Palestinians from Gaza to build a riviera in the region.

On Wednesday, Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and made several controversial statements about Gaza during a press conference.

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 “The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area … do a real job, do something different,” Trump  said. 

Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri rejected the proposal, calling it an attempt to forcibly displace Palestinians from their homeland, further stoking chaos and tension in the region.

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US lawmakers also strongly opposed the proposal. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy called Trump's remarks "dangerous," warning that a US invasion of Gaza would lead to catastrophic loss of life and prolonged conflict.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to a Palestinian state, rejecting Trump's plan. In a statement released early Wednesday, Saudi Arabia reiterated its “unequivocal rejection” of any efforts to infringe upon the rights of Palestinians, including forced displacement.

The kingdom also emphasised that diplomatic relations with Israel would depend on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.