Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that US President Donald Trump’s plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza would act as a "time bomb" for the region. During a press conference on 26 February in Qatar, Lavrov criticised the initiative, stating that it would not resolve the Palestinian issue but instead exacerbate tensions in West Asia.  

Lavrov emphasised that attempts to undermine UN Security Council resolutions and replace the two-state solution with the relocation of Palestinians to other countries would have disastrous consequences. He noted that ignoring calls for a two-state solution over decades has only worsened the conflict.  

The Russian diplomat also expressed Moscow’s concerns over Israel’s actions, which he said are obstructing a peace agreement in the region. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for West Asia, Steve Witkoff, announced plans for a summit with real estate developers and urban planners to discuss Trump’s controversial Gaza plan, promising "astonishing" ideas.  

Trump’s plan, unveiled in early February, proposes relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighbouring countries. The proposal has been widely condemned by Palestinians, who have called it a "declaration of war," and rejected by numerous governments and regional leaders. Despite this, Israeli Military Affairs Minister Israel Katz has ordered the army to prepare a plan for the "voluntary departure" of Palestinians from Gaza, further fuelling fears of an escalation in the conflict.