Afghanistan slams Netanyahu, rejects displacement of Palestinians

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Taliban-led interim administration in Afghanistan Monday slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rejected any plans to displace Palestinians from their homeland.

The interim Afghan Foreign Ministry said it “unequivocally condemns the Israeli occupying leader’s statement” that suggested the establishment of a Palestinian state on the territory of Saudi Arabia.

“The Saudis can create a Palestinian state in Saudi Arabia; they have a lot of land over there,” Netanyahu said last Thursday.

His proposal has been met with widespread condemnation from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

Taliban called the statement by Netanyahu, who is facing an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court, an “unrealistic and flagrant violation of internationally recognized facts and Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry said on X.

Palestine is “the rightful land of Palestinian people,” it added.

“As long as the (Israeli) occupation continues, the inalienable rights of Palestinian people will remain violated, Gaza and the broader region will remain unstable, and such scenario benefits no one,” said the ministry.

Earlier, on Feb. 4, US President Donald Trump said Washington would “take over” Gaza and resettle Palestinians elsewhere under an extraordinary redevelopment plan that he claimed could turn the enclave into “the Riviera of the Middle East.”​​​​​​​

His proposal was met with widespread condemnation from the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many other nations across the world, including Canada, France, Germany, and the UK.

The Israeli attacks have killed nearly 48,200 Palestinians and devastated Gaza since the war on the enclave began on Oct. 7, 2023.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas took hold in Gaza on Jan. 19, following 15 months of Israel’s genocidal war. Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants in November last year for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.