US President Donald Trump confirmed in an interview that Palestinians will not have the right to return to their homes under his plan for the Gaza Strip, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
When asked by Fox News journalist Bret Baier whether Palestinians would be able to return to the war-torn territory, Trump categorically replied: “No, they won't, because they will have much better living conditions“.
He explained that his plan envisages building new housing areas for Palestinians elsewhere: “I'm talking about building them a permanent place, because if they return now, it will be years before they can rebuild it – now it is not habitable.
During a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Trump said the US would "take possession" of the Gaza Strip and "get rid of the demolished buildings" in order to develop the territory economically. The remarks drew international criticism.
Trump again suggested that Palestinians should settle in Jordan or Egypt, although those countries, as well as the Palestinians themselves, have strongly rejected such an option.
In the second part of the interview, which will be broadcast tonight, Trump said the US would build "beautiful communities" for the estimated two million residents of the Gaza Strip.