NNA - France reaffirmed its stance on Gaza’s future on Wednesday, stressing that the enclave should be part of a future Palestinian state rather than being placed under the control of a third country, rejecting a controversial US plan.

"The future of Gaza must be inscribed not in the perspective of control by a third State but in the framework of a future Palestinian State, under the aegis of the Palestinian Authority," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement, implicitly rebuffing US President Donald Trump’s stated plans for the US to "take over" Gaza, forcibly sending its Palestinian residents to other countries.

"France reiterates its opposition to any forced displacement of the Palestinian population of Gaza, which would constitute a serious violation of international law, an attack on the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians, but also a major obstacle to the two-state solution," the ministry added.

It stressed that any forced removal of Gaza’s population would be "a major obstacle to the two-state solution and a significant destabilizing factor for our close partners, Egypt and Jordan, as well as for the entire region." Trump had said the Gazans should be resettled in Jordan and Egypt, a proposal that both countries quickly rejected.

Paris also reaffirmed its opposition to any expansion of Israeli settlements, stating that it is "contrary to international law," and condemning "any unilateral annexation attempt in the West Bank."

During a Tuesday evening news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump declared that the "US will take over the Gaza Strip."

Speaking about the Palestinians, Trump said "Gaza has been very unlucky for them" and is "not a place for people to be living." He then added, "We're going to develop it" into a "Riviera of the Middle East."

The proposal has been rejected worldwide by a host of countries in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond, including China, Türkiye, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia.--AA

===============R.H.