Qatar and Kuwait join growing condemnation of Israeli security minister’s comments

Qatar and Kuwait have joined a number of countries in the condemnation of two Israeli ministers’ comments, calling for Palestinians to be displaced and emigrate out of Gaza.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Monday called for promoting “a solution to encourage the emigration of Gaza’s residents” and the re-establishment of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip, a day after far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich made similar comments.

Qatar said they “condemned in the strongest terms” the comments made by the two ministers.

“The policy of collective punishment and forced displacement practised by the occupation authorities against the inhabitants of Gaza will not change the fact that Gaza is Palestinian land and will remain Palestinian,” reads a statement published by Qatar’s foreign ministry.

Kuwait warned against “Israeli plans to displace Gaza residents in particular, and the Palestinian people in general.”

The United States, France and the European Union also denounced the comments made by the ministers.