UN Investigator: Trump’s Gaza ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ Plan Violates International Law

Trump Proposes U.S. Control Over Gaza, Faces Global Backlash

Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently suggested that the United States should take over the Gaza Strip, displace Palestinian residents, and transform the region into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump outlined this controversial plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded by saying the idea was “worth listening carefully to.”

Navi Pillay, a former judge at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the special tribunal for the Rwandan genocide, strongly criticized Trump’s stance. She condemned his decision to impose sanctions on the ICC, which has recently issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes.

“International law applies equally, without double standards for a state’s friends,” Pillay emphasized, condemning the selective application of legal principles.

A coalition of nearly 80 countries issued a joint statement on Friday, defending the ICC and warning that sanctions against the court could hinder its operations and investigations.

Pillay, who was the first non-white woman appointed to South Africa’s High Court, also expressed support for the ICC bringing charges of apartheid against Israel. “Apartheid is one of the manifestations of control there,” she said, referring to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories. She noted that during South Africa’s apartheid era, international sanctions played a key role in dismantling the oppressive regime and called for similar measures against Israel.

Although apartheid is recognized as a crime against humanity under ICC statutes, Pillay noted that ICC prosecutor Karim Khan has not pursued such charges. “I understand that it’s a complicated charge to bring forward for the first time,” she said. However, she confirmed that her own commission is preparing to investigate Israel over allegations of apartheid.

In October, Pillay’s commission accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, citing the deliberate destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system. In response to ongoing criticism from international bodies, Israel withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council on Wednesday, citing claims of “discrimination” and “antisemitism.”