Arab countries send letter to US, protesting Palestinian relocation from Gaza

(CLO) Five Arab countries and a senior Palestinian official have sent a letter protesting the plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump.

The letter, signed by the foreign ministers of Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, and Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh, asserted that Palestinians must remain in their homeland and participate in the reconstruction process.

In a letter of protest, the Arab ministers asserted: "The Palestinian people will live on their land and help rebuild it. They should not be deprived of their right to self-determination in the process."

Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip. Photo: CC/Wiki

Earlier in late January, Mr Trump proposed that Jordan and Egypt take in Palestinians from Gaza, raising concerns about the risk of permanent expulsion. Arab countries rejected the proposal, while Palestinians warned that it could be an act of ethnic cleansing.

In Gaza, where fighting has eased following a ceasefire, Palestinians are appealing for billions of dollars in emergency aid to deal with the humanitarian disaster. A Palestinian Authority official said at least $6.5 billion is needed to provide temporary housing for Gaza’s more than two million residents. Hamas, meanwhile, has asked for 200,000 tents and 60,000 convoys of vehicles to shelter the displaced.

Countries including Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, Turkey and China have expressed their willingness to help with reconstruction, but Palestinian officials have accused Israel of delaying the delivery of aid to Gaza. Imports of aid have been hampered by Israeli concerns that some supplies could be used for military purposes.

Many Palestinians returned home after the conflict to find only rubble. Gaza businessman Imad Turk said his home and timber factory were completely destroyed. "We don't know when reconstruction will start, or whether the ceasefire will hold. We don't want to be forgotten by the world ," he said.

Ngoc Anh (according to Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cac-quoc-gia-a-rap-gui-thu-cho-my-phan-doi-di-doi-nguoi-palestine-khoi-gaza-post332957.html