Arab states and the international community should block Israel’s plans to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said on Wednesday.
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“The head of the (Lebanese) government criticized Israel’s statements related to the resettlement of residents of Gaza and the West Bank and the creation of a Palestinian state outside the historical territory of Palestine, noting the need to strengthen the support of Arab countries and the international community to prevent this project,” the Lebanese government’s press service said in a statement.
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Speaking about the situation on the Lebanese-Israeli border, Salam stressed that Lebanon is not considering the possibility of normalizing relations with Israel, and the entire Lebanese society is against such a development.
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The Lebanese Prime Minister noted that the situation on the southern borders remains tense amid ongoing attacks from Israel. In this regard, Beirut intends to continue to insist through its diplomatic channels on exerting pressure on Tel Aviv from the international community.
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Earlier, the Associated Press reported that the United States and Israel contacted the authorities of Sudan, Somalia and the unrecognized republic of Somaliland to discuss with them the “resettlement” of residents of the Gaza Strip there.
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In early February, US President Donald Trump said that the United States would “take control” of the Gaza Strip and be responsible for reconstruction work in the region, as well as turn it into a “Middle Eastern riviera” for the whole world. At the same time, he called the current Gaza Strip a “demolition site” and said that its residents should leave for other countries forever, offering Jordan or Egypt for their residence. He also did not rule out that the United States could send its army to Gaza, and promised that he would visit the Gaza Strip personally.
