Israel will draw up plan to relate Palestinians
By: cybeke Mayes-Osterman
USA Today
..... Israel's defense minister said European nations that accused the country of disproportionate attacks in the Gaza Strip are "legally obligated" to accept Palestinian refugees as Middle Eastern counties rejected President Donald Trump's proposal to relocate all of the enclave's residents.
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On Thursday, [02/06/2025 Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he directed Israel's defense forces to draw up a plan that will allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them." He said the army would provide "exit options via land crossing, as well as special arrangement for departure by sea and air."
..... Countries "such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others" that have caused Israel of disproportionate attacks on civilian and violations of laws governing war "are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory," he wrote on X.
..... It comes after Trump deviated form decades of American foreign policy in the Middle East in his proposal on Tuesday [02/04/2025] to "take over" and "own" the war-torn Gaza Strip. The White House quickly walked back is comments, with spokesperson Karoline Leavitt telling reporters that Trump "has not committed to putting boots on the ground in Gaza" or to pay for its rebuilding.
..... But his statements still sent shock waves through Middle Eastern counties that worked to broker the ceasefire and hostage release deal struck between Israel and Hamas last month [01/2025] after more than a year of war.
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Saudi Arabia, which has long refused to normalize its relations with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state, said tis position was still "firm and unwavering."
..... In call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi urged other entires to "support the implementation of the two-state solution," according to a statement form his office.
..... Forcibly displacing civilians is a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Humanitarian organization have already accused Israel of the intentional disparagement of Palestinians, which they say amounts to "ethnic cleansing.:
..... But Trump's porpoise would go a step further - "it would move the U.S. from being complicit i war crimes to direct perpetration of atorcites," Lama Fakih, of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on Wednesday. [02/05/2025]
..... "It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law," united Nations Secretary general Antonio Guterres told Trump on Wednesday. [02/05/2025] "It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing."
..... Israel launched its 15-month siege of Gaza after Hamas, the militant group that governs the Plaintiveness enclaves, launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking around 250 hostages.
..... In the ensuring conflict, more than 47,000 Palestinians were killed, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Helaht Ministry, including more than 13,000 children. Much of the enclave was reduced to rubble and 90% of its population was displaced.
Contributing: Reuters.