Rejecting statements on forced displacement and calling on the international community to take a firm stance
The Arab Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) expresses its strong condemnation and categorical rejection of the statements of US President Donald Trump, calling for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people to Egypt, Jordan, and other places. ANNHRI considers these statements a flagrant violation of international law and a blatant attempt to liquidate the Palestinian cause, in light of the ongoing systematic Israeli crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
These statements constitute a dangerous precedent in disregarding and showing contempt for international law, undermining its effectiveness and credibility. They legitimize ethnic cleansing, provide political and propaganda cover for the continuation of Israeli crimes, and fuel the discourse of racism and hatred against Palestinians, reinforcing Israeli calls for their expulsion and forced displacement.
ANNHRI affirms that these statements represent a serious retreat from international obligations regarding the rights of the Palestinian people, particularly their right to self-determination and return. It also constitutes a significant setback to efforts to achieve a just peace in the Middle East, further entrenching absolute American bias toward the Israeli occupation, in clear violation of international resolutions and international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions and the UN Charter.
The Network considers that this stance comes amid more than a year of ongoing massacres committed by Israeli occupation forces, including genocide, forced displacement, siege, and systematic starvation. Additionally, it includes targeting patients and medical staff in clear violation of all international laws and conventions.
ANNHRI strongly rejects any attempts to mislead or manipulate terminology to justify the forced displacement of the Palestinian people, including attempts to falsely label it as “voluntary migration.” The reality is that this displacement is forced, based on ethnic engineering, imposed through systematic starvation, deliberate destruction of infrastructure, and obstruction of reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip. These policies, implemented by Israeli occupation forces, aim to impose an unbearable reality on Palestinians and force them to leave their land.
ANNHRI stresses the importance of activating mechanisms of international human rights law, international humanitarian law, and international criminal law to ensure that Israeli occupation leaders are held accountable for their crimes against the Palestinian people, including genocide, forced displacement, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
A just solution to the Palestinian issue can only be achieved through the implementation of relevant United Nations resolutions, including:
- General Assembly Resolution 194 (1948), which affirms the right of Palestinian refugees to return and receive compensation.
- Security Council Resolution 242 (1967), which calls for Israel’s withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967.
- Security Council Resolution 338 (1973), which demands the implementation of Resolution 242.
- Security Council Resolution 478 (1980), which deems Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem illegal.
- Security Council Resolution 2334 (2016), which condemns Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
- The International Court of Justice advisory opinion, which confirms the illegality of Israeli occupation and the need to end it as soon as possible.
- The United Nations General Assembly resolution (September 2024), which calls for the Israeli occupation to end within a year.
ANNHRI urges adherence to the rulings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), as they serve as decisive legal references reflecting international will to achieve justice and end the occupation.
The Network appreciates the clear and firm positions taken by many countries worldwide, particularly those of Egypt, Jordan, and the State of Palestine, which have strongly rejected any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause or undermine Palestinian rights. ANNHRI views Trump’s statements as a direct threat to Arab national security and a flagrant violation of international law and UN resolutions.
ANNHRI calls on the United Nations and the international community to take firm action against these dangerous statements by:
- Declaring a clear and unified international stance rejecting Trump’s statements on the displacement of Palestinians and reaffirming the territorial integrity of Palestine.
- Reasserting the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, especially their right to self-determination, return, and independence, while rejecting any solutions based on forced displacement.
- Holding Israeli occupation leaders accountable for war crimes and genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, in line with international law.
- Supporting humanitarian aid efforts and the reconstruction of Gaza to enhance Palestinian resilience on their land.
- Working towards a comprehensive and just resolution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with international law, ensuring Palestinians’ rights to return, self-determination, and statehood on their occupied lands.
The Arab Network for National Human Rights Institutions (ANNHRI) reiterates its absolute rejection of any attempts to erase the Palestinian cause and urges the international community to fulfill its responsibilities in ending the occupation, halting grave human rights violations, and ensuring justice for the Palestinian people.
