UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Wednesday that any plan involving the forced displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip would constitute “ethnic cleansing” and represent a serious breach of international law.

His statement came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a surprising proposal in which the United States would take control of the enclave following the relocation of nearly two million Palestinians. 

“If we are looking for solutions, we must not make problems worse. Any forced displacement of populations amounts to ethnic cleansing. It is crucial to remain faithful to the principles of international law,” Guterres said in remarks delivered by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, ahead of his address to the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. 

The UN chief also reiterated his support for a two-state solution—one Israeli and one Palestinian—as the only viable path to peace.

His relationship with the Israeli government has been strained, particularly since 2023 when he told the Security Council that the October 7 Hamas attacks “did not happen in a vacuum, but after 56 years of suffocating occupation.” Since then, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to engage with him. 

The position of the European Union

Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, speaking from Geneva, responded to Trump’s proposal by stressing that “any deportation or forced transfer of people without legal basis is strictly prohibited.” 

The European Union also rejected the plan, emphasizing that the Gaza Strip is an “integral part of a future Palestinian state” and reaffirming its strong commitment to a two-state solution. “For us, it is the only path to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians,” an EU spokesperson said. 

Trump’s proposal has also raised alarm in the region. According to Dujarric, Guterres spoke with King Abdullah II of Jordan about the situation, though he has not held any direct talks with the U.S. president since he took office. 

The UN statements aim to prevent a diplomatic escalation that could further isolate the people of Gaza, who have already endured decades of blockade, conflict, and humanitarian crisis.