Iran has condemned a U.S.-Israel plan regarding Gaza, denouncing it as a scheme to displace Palestinians. This comes after the rejection of a $53 billion Arab reconstruction proposal. Tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel are escalating, with potential military actions being discussed. The Iranian Foreign Ministry criticized the plan as genocidal and called for emergency meetings among Muslim nations.
Iran has publicly condemned what it perceives as a U.S.-Israel initiative aimed at displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. This response followed the U.S.’s rejection of a $53 billion Arab reconstruction proposal designed to aid the war-torn region. Newsweek has reached out for comments from both the White House and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tensions have escalated between Iran and the U.S. after the latter imposed stricter oil sanctions on Iran in February. Both nations, alongside Israel, have intimated that military action may be considered to contain Iran’s nuclear development. In retaliation for prior attacks, Iran has threatened military operations against Israel.
The U.S. and Israel dismissed a significant $53 billion reconstruction plan proposed by Arab leaders, which sought to provide an alternative to Trump’s strategy without requiring the relocation of Gaza’s populace. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei characterized this plan as an extension of genocide through political maneuvering, emphasizing its perceived inhumanity.
In a televised statement, Baqaei asserted that the U.S.-Israeli plan aims to forcibly relocate residents of Gaza to nearby countries, including Jordan, Egypt, and possibly Saudi Arabia, as part of a broader scheme. Additionally, Iran has called for an urgent meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to discuss the ongoing situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
The conflict has led to significant casualties, with reports indicating the devastating consequences of the battles between Hamas, an Iranian-backed group, and Israeli forces. Since the onset of the conflict on October 7, 2023, approximately 1,200 Israelis have been killed alongside more than 200 kidnapped, while Palestinian health officials report over 48,000 fatalities in Gaza.
Esmaeil Baqaei criticized the proposed plans for Gaza’s future, labeling them as a “continuation of genocide”. In contrast, Prime Minister Netanyahu had previously suggested that allowing Gazans to emigrate temporarily could be acceptable, provided they are permitted to return once reconstruction occurs.
In conclusion, Iran has vehemently opposed the U.S.-Israel plan for Gaza, framing it as an attempt to displace Palestinians under the guise of political strategy. Amid rising tensions in the region, the implications of such a plan could lead to increased conflict. Calls for urgent discussions among Islamic nations underscore the severity of the situation, particularly in light of the high civilian casualties reported in Gaza and Israel during the ongoing conflict.
Original Source: www.newsweek.com