Lebanon calls proposals to displace Palestinians from Gaza ‘imaginary’

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam today called proposals to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza and move them to Egypt and Jordan “imaginary”.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly called for Washington to take over Gaza and forcibly displace Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, an idea widely rejected by Palestinians and Arab leaders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also suggested last week that Palestinians should establish their state in Saudi Arabia rather than in their own homeland, dismissing any notion of Palestinian sovereignty.

“I find this talk outrageous,” Salam told Lebanese state television.

“Not only is the idea of transferring the people of Gaza to Egypt and Jordan a visionary issue, but transferring them to the West Bank is outrageous and unacceptable – morally, politically, and legally.”

The Lebanese premier called for “more Arab solidarity to abort these projects and prevent their implementation.”

The proposals for Palestinian displacement come amid a ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on 19 January, suspending Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed more than 48,200 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins.

Relations with Syria

Regarding Lebanon’s relations with neighbouring Syria, Salam said he plans to visit Damascus “soon”, but did not specify a date.

He said his talks in Syria will take up a flurry of bilateral issues, including border demarcation and displaced Syrians in Lebanon.

Bashar Al-Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on 8 December, ending the Baath regime’s 61-year reign over the country.

The next day, Ahmed Al-Sharaa, the leader of the new Syrian administration, who was appointed on 29 January as president, tasked Mohammed Al-Bashir with forming a government to oversee Syria’s transitional period.

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