Trump requests Morocco take in Palestinians evicted from Gaza
US President Donald Trump has again posited the idea of forcibly relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, this time to Morocco.
According to The New Arab, On February 4th, Israeli news channels reported that the Trump administration are considering Morocco as a new permanent location for ethnically cleansed Gazans, due to Morocco’s dependence on American recognition of their sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara.
Trump has also suggested Somaliland and Puntland as possibilities, both countries are currently seeking US recognition of their sovereignty.
Morocco and the US currently foster friendly relations with one another, normalising relations with Israel in 2020 through the controversial Abraham Accords, brokered by Trump during his first term.
In 2020, Trump officially recognised Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for Morocco’s establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.
The building of a new American consulate is due to begin in Dakhla, a key Moroccan city but this has yet to be finished.
Despite Morocco’s diplomatic relations with Israel and the US, pro-Palestinian sentiments have continued, with many protests being held in solidarity with those suffering in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian activist groups have continually spoken against Israel’s atrocities in the Gaza Strip, calling for Morocco to cut their diplomatic ties with Israel.
Regardless of diplomatic ties, the Moroccan ministry of foreign affairs has occasionally criticised Israel’s aggression in the Gaza Strip, with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita maintaining that Morocco will stay “committed” to the Palestinian cause, despite their diplomatic relations with Israel and the US.
International relations professor Said Siddiki, said: Morocco “cannot accept any plan to relocate or resettle Palestinians outside of Palestine, whether in Morocco or in another country, as such plan would not only constitute ethnic cleansing but also the liquidation of the Palestinian cause”.
The US president revealed his proposal to expel Palestinians from Gaza, suggesting a US takeover of the enclave
Trump plans to reconstruct the damaged enclave, turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East”.This idea was met with widespread criticism, being described by many as insensitive and callous. However, On February 6th, Trumps administration doubled down on his comments, with the secretary of state terming it a “generous move”.
The proposal has been heavily criticised by Palestinians, supporters and human rights group, saying the idea constitutes “ethnic cleansing”.
Trumps initial idea was to expel Palestinians into Jordan and Egypt, but this was firmly rejected by both countries.
The New Arab, Maghrebi, Morocco World News
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