President Trump’s call to “clean out” Gaza with Palestinians moving to countries such as Egypt and Jordan has been condemned as a plan for ethnic cleansing. Mr Trump called Gaza a “demolition site” and said people there should move “either temporarily or long term”.
He said: You’re talking about probably a million and a half people, and we just clean out that whole thing". He suggested that houses could be built “at a different location where they can maybe live in peace for a change”.
The President said he had made the request to Jordan’s King Abdullah and Egypt’s president. Both countries have rejected the idea of taking Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Hamas and the Palestinian Authority also condemned the proposal. Lawyers and human rights advocates described it as ethnic cleansing. However the proposal has been welcomed by far-right Israeli nationalists.
Mr Trump’s comments come as a fragile ceasefire is continuing in Gaza. However there is renewed tension over Israel’s refusal to allow thousands of Palestinians to return to the north of the territory.
Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lucy Williamson.
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