Allies and foes reject Trump's 'Riviera' plans for Gaza: 'New suffering and new hatred'

The world reacted in unified shock on Wednesday after President Donald Trump announced his intention that the U.S. develop the Gaza Strip to create a "Riviera of the Middle East," and that millions of Palestinians living there would be relocated. 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt looked to ease concerns on Wednesday and said the president has not "committed to putting boots on the ground" or to paying for the reconstruction plans. 

But her assurances came after the president's proposal was met with swift resistance from leaders across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania. 

The ministry "stressed the importance of avoiding everything that could lead to the expansion of the conflict in the region, and explained that the priority now after the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip must focus on ending extremism, tension and violence, protecting the lives of all civilians, and delivering urgent, safe and sustainable humanitarian aid."

A senior official with the terror group Hamas, Sami Abu Zuhri, said, "Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass. What is required is to end the [Israeli] occupation and aggression against our people, not to expel them from their land."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas echoed the shared sentiment and said, "The Palestinians will not relinquish their land, rights and sacred sites, and that the Gaza Strip is an integral part of the land of the State of Palestine, along with the West Bank and East Jerusalem."

A senior Iranian official told Reuters, "Iran does not agree with any displacement of Palestinians and has communicated this through various channels."

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been toeing the line when it comes to relations with the U.S. amid the second Trump administration, for the first time on Wednesday broke with Trump and said Palestinians "must be allowed home." 

"A displacement of the Palestinian civilian population from Gaza would not only be unacceptable and in breach of international law. It would also lead to new suffering and new hatred," she added.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reaffirmed Russia's support for a two-state solution and said, "This is the thesis that is enshrined in the relevant U.N. Security Council resolution, this is the thesis that is shared by the overwhelming majority of countries involved in this problem. We proceed from it, we support it and believe that this is the only possible option."

"Gaza's future must lie not in the prospect of control by a third State but in the framework of a future Palestinian State, under the aegis of the Palestinian Authority." 

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "China has all along believed that 'the Palestinians governing Palestine' is the fundamental principle of post-conflict governance of Gaza. 

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told local news outlets that Trump's proposal was "unacceptable" and argued that plans to leave Palestinians "out of the equation" would lead to more conflict. 

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called Trump's comments "bravado" and said in an interview with local radio stations, "No country, no matter how important, can fight the entire world all the time."

"It makes no sense," he argued while defending a two-state solution. "Where would Palestinians live? This is something incomprehensible to any human being.

"Palestinians are the ones who need to take care of Gaza," he added. 

Reuters contributed to this report.