Afghanistan slams Netanyahu, rejects displacement of Palestinians

ISTANBUL (AA) – The Taliban-led interim administration in Afghanistan has 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 suggested last week.

His offensive and controversial 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 February 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.