Iran has strongly condemned former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to forcibly relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Jordan and Egypt, calling it an extension of a colonial project aimed at erasing Palestinian identity.

In a statement on Tuesday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaïl Baghaï reaffirmed that the people of Gaza would not abandon their land under political pressure. His remarks, shared on social media, were a direct response to Trump’s suggestion that transferring Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries would help “clean up” the war-ravaged territory.

Baghaï denounced the concept of “cleansing Gaza” as part of a broader plan to eliminate the Palestinian people, supported by American-supplied weapons, intelligence, and financial aid. He stressed that despite 15 months of relentless Israeli attacks, Palestinians have remained steadfast, refusing to be driven from their ancestral land. “This land belongs to them, and they have made immense sacrifices to stay and continue their heroic struggle for self-determination and freedom,” he declared.

On Monday, Trump reiterated his call for the forced displacement of Palestinians, suggesting that Egypt, Jordan, and other Arab states should take in a significant number of refugees. This proposal, however, has been categorically rejected by both Cairo and Amman, who denounce it as ethnic cleansing.

Trump’s remarks, made on 25 January, described Gaza as a “demolition site” and proposed building housing for over a million displaced Palestinians in Jordan and Egypt. However, Arab leaders have consistently opposed any plan that forces Palestinians out of their homeland.

Since October 2023, Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza has displaced 2.4 million people within the besieged enclave. The war has killed at least 47,306 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children.

On 15 January, the Israeli occupation was forced to accept a ceasefire after failing to achieve its military objectives, which included the return of Israeli captives, the dismantling of Palestinian resistance in Gaza, and the mass displacement of its population into Egypt.

Analysts warn that any forced relocation plan would provide Israel with the justification to permanently expel Gaza’s population and replace them with Israeli settlers.