“The scheme to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza is not only a big crime that equals genocide, but also has dangerous ramifications for the stability and security of the region and the world,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a meeting with Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) head Hussein Brahim Taha.
Araghchi also held talks with the top diplomats of Egypt, Turkey, and Tunisia regarding Trump's proposal.
Trump presented his idea of turning Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East” during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting two million Palestinians to be relocated to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan.
But both Cairo and Amman have strongly rejected the idea.
“The Organization of Islamic Cooperation must take a decisive and effective decision as soon as possible by holding an extraordinary meeting with the presence of the foreign ministers of the member states to defend the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people,” Araghchi added.
Araghchi’s meetings also came after Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei received a senior Hamas delegation in Tehran.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday received a delegation from Hamas' leadership council in Tehran.
— Rudaw English (@RudawEnglish) February 8, 2025
📸: Khamenei's office pic.twitter.com/bfmBP8OJ3u
The international response to Trump’s proposal has been swift and largely critical. Saudi Arabia was quick to push back on Wednesday, warning that it “would not establish diplomatic relations with Israel” unless “an independent Palestinian state” is established within “the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
Tehran has backed Hamas militants as well as other armed groups in the Middle East opposed to Israel such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Israel views Iran as one of the main threats to its national security and has carried out covert attacks on Iranian military and nuclear facilities.
