Trump's project for Gaza: 'A form of 21st-century colonialism,' says Amnesty International

Donald Trump's plan for an American takeover of Gaza and the displacement of its population is a "form of 21st-century colonialism," said Agnès Callamard, the secretary-general of the NGO Amnesty International, to AFP on Wednesday. "It's a nightmare reminiscent of the 19th century when the most powerful countries seized the less powerful ones, a form of 21st-century colonialism," reacted Agnès Callamard, who was "breathless" upon hearing Trump's words.

The American president announced on Wednesday, to general astonishment, his intention to take "control" of the war-devastated Gaza Strip and relocate its inhabitants to Jordan or Egypt, despite opposition from these countries and the Palestinians themselves. This project, which Amnesty International calls "shocking" and "illegal," has been condemned by many countries and the U.N., at a time when delicate negotiations to extend the truce between Israel and Hamas are set to resume.

'Calls for forced displacement must be condemned'

"The statements by President Trump calling for the forced displacement of Palestinians from the occupied Gaza Strip must be widely and unequivocally condemned," Callamard supported earlier in a statement. "The language used [by Donald Trump] is incendiary, outrageous and his proposal constitutes a blatant violation of international law," she denounced, accusing him of "dangerously dehumanizing" the Palestinians of Gaza.

"In the face of President Trump's dangerous threats, it's more important than ever that the rest of the international community categorically rejects these proposals, and accelerates diplomatic efforts in accordance with international law," argued the secretary-general of the organization. Like other NGOs, Amnesty International accuses Israel of "committing genocide" against the Palestinians of Gaza, since the start of the war triggered by the unprecedented attack of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, a claim strongly rejected by the Israeli government. "Any plan to forcibly expel Palestinians from the occupied territory is a war crime, and if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against the civilian population, it would constitute a crime against humanity," stated Callamard. ‘This plan cannot be executed without extraordinary use of force, and it will be a disaster for a population already victim of genocide, military occupation and an apartheid system," she continued to AFP.