OKI Strictly Condemns US President Donald Trump's Plan To Displace Gazans

Israeli military operations in Gaza. (Source: Israel Defense Forces)

JAKARTA - The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Wednesday condemned US President Donald Trump's remarks regarding his call to displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, his support for Israel's alleged sovereignty over Palestinian soil to the suspension of funding for the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA).

In a statement, the OIC considers this to contribute to the consolidation of the occupation, colonial settlement and the forced seizure of Palestinian soil, which is a marked violation of international legal principles and the relevant United Nations resolution, including Security Council Resolution No. 2334, will undermine peace opportunities and disrupt regional stability.

The organization also expressed its absolute rejection of any plans aimed at changing geographic, demographic, or Palestinian territory law.

"The Gaza Strip is an integral part of the occupied Palestinian State," the organization said, quoted from WAFA February 5, calling for joint efforts to consolidate a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire, the full withdrawal of Israeli occupation.

The OIC also stressed that Gazans must remain in their homeland, return them safely to their homes, provide urgent assistance, economic recovery, and reconstruction for the Gaza Strip, ensuring accountability for all crimes committed by the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian people.

In the same statement, the OIC also renewed its steadfast support for UNRWA, emphasizing its important and irreplaceable role, rejecting firmly all efforts to weaken its legal existence or mandate.

Reaffirming his solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, the OIC renews its commitment to support international efforts aimed at achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region that leads to the end of Israel's occupation and the application of two-state solutions based on international law principles, the United Nations Charter and its relevant resolutions, as well as the Arab Peace Pre-Corruption.

As previously reported, United States President Donald Trump said the permanent transfer of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip which was destroyed by the war was upon Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit.

He said Palestinians in the enclave had no choice but to leave the area which had to be rebuilt after nearly 16 months of war.

"That is the location of the demolition," President Trump said before meeting PM Netanyahu.

"If we can find the right piece of land, or a lot of land, and build a very good place for them with a lot of money in the area, that's for sure. I think it would be much better than returning to Gaza," he explained.

"I don't know how they (Palestinians) can stay," President Trump replied when asked about the reaction of Palestinian and Arab leaders to his proposal.

In response, Palestinian Ambassador to the United Nations Riyad Mansour said Palestinians would choose to return to Gaza even though it was destroyed, because it was their homeland.

Meanwhile, senior leaders of the militant group Hamas last Saturday said, "plans to move Palestinians from Gaza are unreasonable and meaningless," as quoted by Middle East Monitor.

He stressed, "what Israel's occupation of violence failed to achieve, will not be achieved through political maneuvers."

Calling the plan a "recept for further chaos and tension in the region", Abu Zuhri said "the US repeated announcement of the relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip under the pretext of reconstruction reflects the continued involvement in the crime."

In a press conference after a meeting with PM Netanyahu, President Trump said the United States would take over the Gaza Strip, Palestine under the pretext of rebuilding it and not ruling out sending its troops to the Palestinian enclave.

"I see the long-term position of ownership, and I see it will bring great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe throughout the Middle East as well," President Trump told reporters in the East Room.

"This is not a decision that is made easily. Everyone I talk to likes the idea that the United States owns that piece of land, develops and creates thousands of jobs with something that would be extraordinary," he continued.

President Trump also said the US would "take over the Gaza Strip, and we would also do work there."

"We will have it and be responsible for dismantling all the dangerous bombs that have not exploded and other weapons at the site," he said.

"Register the site and get rid of destroyed buildings, flatten, create economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for people in the area, do real work, do something different," he explained.

President Trump said his plans to take over Gaza would "create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it would be something the entire Middle East is very proud of."