Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Wednesday strongly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian population to other countries.
“This is an unacceptable issue, even opening it up for discussion is wrong,” Fidan stated in an interview with Anadolu Agency, stressing that Türkiye rejects any attempt to exclude the people of Gaza from their homeland.
Trump’s Controversial Proposal
During a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump proposed that the U.S. take over Gaza, clear the war-torn region of unexploded ordnance and debris, and embark on a large-scale economic redevelopment project.
“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” Trump declared, suggesting that his plan would transform Gaza into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”
However, he did not provide details on how the U.S. would relocate over two million Palestinians or administer the territory. He also claimed that leaders in the Middle East supported the initiative, though Egypt and Jordan have explicitly rejected the idea.
Strong International Backlash
The proposal has been met with outrage from Palestinian groups. Hamas condemned Trump’s remarks, calling them a “racist” scheme aimed at eliminating the Palestinian cause.
“The American racist stance aligns with the Israeli extreme right’s position in displacing our people and eliminating our cause,” said Hamas spokesman Abdel Latif al-Qanou.
With growing criticism from Türkiye and Arab nations, Trump’s proposal faces significant diplomatic opposition and raises concerns over the future of Gaza and its people.