BRUSSELS - US President Donald Trump's remarks on the Gaza Strip on Tuesday drew widespread criticism in Europe, with European officials and experts underlining the importance of a two-state solution.Trump said on Tuesday that the US would take over the Gaza Strip and rebuild it after the Palestinians were relocated elsewhere.Trump made the remarks at a joint news conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, he did not provide details on how the resettlement procedure would be implemented."The European Union (EU) remains firmly committed to the two-state solution, which we believe is the only path to lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians," an EU spokesman was quoted as saying by local media.
"Gaza is an integral part of the future Palestinian state," the spokesman added.According to the French presidential office, Elysee, French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday (2/5) held a telephone conversation with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi.
They stressed that "any forced relocation of Palestinian residents in Gaza or the West Bank is unacceptable."
The two heads of state added that forced relocation constitutes a serious violation of international law and an obstacle to the two-state solution.
The French Foreign Ministry said, "France will continue to actively promote the implementation of the two-state solution, the only way to guarantee lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians."Sophie Primas, a French government spokeswoman, said Trump's remarks on Gaza "endanger stability and the peace process.""France is totally opposed to any relocation of people," Primas said. She added, "We stand firm in our policy, which is: no relocation of people, seeking a temporary ceasefire towards the peace process and the two-state solution."
Meanwhile, "For the Netherlands, there is no doubt: Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people," Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said in a statement. "Our position remains unchanged: the Netherlands supports a two-state solution. That means an independent Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in security."