Middle East: Trump's Gaza takeover remarks met with backlash
Kate Hairsine with Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa | Wesley Dockery Editor

Saudi Arabia and China are among those rejecting President Donald Trump's suggestion that the US could "take over" Gaza. US top diplomat Marco Rubio has stood behind the president's remarks. DW has the latest.

China said on Wednesday that it disagrees with the "forced transfer" of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, reports AFP news agency.

The comment came after US President Donald Trump suggested a US takeover of Gaza and the "resettlement" of Palestinians living there.

"China has always maintained that Palestinian rule over Palestinians is the basic principle of the post-war governance of Gaza," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

"We are opposed to the forced transfer of the residents of Gaza."

 

Here are some reactions by Democratic politicians to US President Donald Trump's comments: 

US Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said that Trump's proposal of a US takeover of Gaza was like a "bad sick joke," adding in a post on X that Trump had "totally lost it.".

In a follow-up post, Murphy said it wouldn't happen, but that Trump's suggestion was distracting "from the real story — the billionaires seizing government to steal from regular people."

It's probably safe to say that Murphy's comment is a swipe at billionaire Elon Musk's campaign to radically upend federal agencies. 

Palestinian-American congresswoman Rashida Tlaib described the notion of resettling Gazans as "ethnic cleansing" in an X post. She also criticized Trump for cutting federal support to Americans while "funding to the Israeli government continues flowing."

"Wait what?" wrote congressman Eric Swalwell on X. "The US is going to occupy Gaza? We were promised no more endless wars."

Not all Democrats rejected the possibility of a US presence in Gaza. Senator John Fetterman called Trump's comments "provocative" in a statement to US outlet Politico but added that "it's part of a conversation and that's where we are."

Here's how some Republican politicians have reacted: 

House Speaker Mike Johnson praised Trump's remarks as taking a "bold action in hopes of achieving lasting peace in Gaza."

"We are hopeful this brings much needed stability and security to the region," he wrote on X.

US Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina was supportive: "President Trump will never stop working to ensure historic and lasting PEACE!" he wrote on X. 

And long-time Trump ally Nancy Mace, a congresswoman from South Carolina, suggested turning "Gaza into Mar-A-Lago," referring to Trump's resort in Palm Beach, Florida.

 

US top diplomat says US stands ready to 'Make Gaza Beautiful Again'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to back Trump's plans for a US takeover of Gaza. 

"Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas. As @POTUS [US President Donald Trump] shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again," Rubio posted on X. 

 

US top diplomat says US stands ready to 'Make Gaza Beautiful Again'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared to back Trump's plans for a US takeover of Gaza. 

"Gaza MUST BE FREE from Hamas. As @POTUS [US President Donald Trump] shared today, the United States stands ready to lead and Make Gaza Beautiful Again," Rubio posted on X. 

https://www.dw.com/en/middle-east-trumps-gaza-takeover-remarks-met-with-backlash/live-71508488

 

 

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