Belgian foreign minister: Trump's Gaza plans are ‘outrageous’
Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s new foreign minister, has described US president Donald Trump’s recent statements on Gaza as “outrageous” at a press conference in Brussels on Wednesday. Trump unveiled a plan to expel Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, take over the Gaza Strip and redevelop Gaza into "a Riviera of the Middle East”.
Prévot’s rejection of Trump’s plans is in line with the reactions of many of his colleagues in other EU countries. The French foreign ministry, which clearly opposes any forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, added that Gaza's future lies with “a future Palestinian state” and not with control by a third country. A spokeswoman for the French government further labelled Trump's statements as “dangerous for stability (in the region) and the peace process”.
Germany also believes that Gaza “belongs to the Palestinians” and “like the West Bank and East Jerusalem” should be part of a “future Palestinian state”. “The civilian population of Gaza should not be expelled and Gaza should not be occupied for long periods of time or recolonised,” German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock declared.
Her Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani again referred to his country's position: “We support a two-state solution and are even ready to send Italian soldiers to reunite Gaza and the West Bank”. Spain also believes that Gazans belong in Gaza and should be allowed to stay there.
Dutch foreign minister Caspar Veldkamp earlier expressed his opposition to the deportation of Palestinians from Gaza, but Geert Wilders, the leader of the largest ruling party, backed Trump's plan.
Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot © BELGA PHOTO HATIM KAGHAT
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