Maldives condemns Trump's plan to 'take over' Gaza

Maldives issued a statement yesterday, rejecting United States' President Donald Trump's plans to displace the population of the Gaza strip to allow "world's people" to live there after re-development.

The statement issued by Maldives' Foreign Ministry said Maldives "reiterates its firm and unwavering support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant United Nations resolutions and international law."

The statement also rejected all policies and actions that undermine the prospects for achieving peace in the region, including the continued expansion of illegal settlements, land annexation and any attempts to displace the population of the Gaza Strip, and called for the full membership of Palestine at the UN.

"The Maldives calls on the international community to take all necessary measures to uphold international law and to protect the rights of the Palestinian people. A political solution remains the only viable path to achieving lasting peace, where two independent states can coexist in security, dignity and mutual recognition," the statement concluded.

Donald Trump's comments on displacing Palestinians, who returned to their homes after more than a year of displacement due to Israel's continued genocide against them, were made alongside Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the White House on Trump's invitation.

Trump's statements drew widespread international criticism, particularly for his plans to have Palestinians settled in other countries, and suggesting that the US would have a long term ownership of Gaza.

However, since then, the US has mellowed its stance, now backtracking to say that it would only be a temporary relocation.