The UK government has offered fresh opposition to US President Donald Trump’s proposal for Palestinians to leave Gaza.
Foreign Office minister Anneliese Dodds told MPs on Thursday morning: “We would oppose any effort to move Palestinians in Gaza to neighbouring Arab states against their will.
“There must be no forced displacement of Palestinians, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza Strip.”
It comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy distanced themselves from the idea earlier this week, reiterating that ministers supported a two-state solution for the region.
Politics latest: Badenoch unveils first policy
Mr Trump said on Tuesday that he wanted Palestinians to be relocated to countries like Egypt and Jordan and turn Gaza into a “Riviera” of the Middle East.
The president said: “If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”
He added that the US would “take over the Gaza Strip” and “own it”.
The White House later tried to backtrack on some of what Mr Trump said.
On Thursday, Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the Israel Defence Forces to “prepare a plan that will allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them”.
Mr Trump made his announcement during a White House press conference alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mr Netanyahu has since said he supported the idea of “allowing Gazans who want to leave, to leave”.
He added in an interview with Fox News: “I mean, what’s wrong with that? They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back. But you have to rebuild Gaza.”
Read more:
Everything you need to know about Trump Gaza plan
Proposal could make conflict worse
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Mr Trump’s comments have been criticised around the world. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Jordan also rejected Mr Trump’s suggestion.
In a statement on social media, Mr Katz claimed that countries like “Spain, Ireland, Norway and others” who have “falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza” are “legally obligated” to accept Gazans.
The Irish government dismissed the claim as “unhelpful”.
Follow our channel and never miss an update.
👉 Listen to Sky News Daily on your podcast app 👈
In the Commons, Ms Dodds resisted calls from multiple MPs, including from Labour, the SNP and the Greens, to label any forced removal of Palestinians from Gaza as ethnic cleansing.
She said: “We have been very clear… about the fact that any, attempt to prevent Gazans from returning home, to prevent them from returning to their communities, to suggest that – for example – they must be housed and remained in other Arab states, any attempt to do that would be contrary to international law.”
