French broadcaster removes controversial program on Trump's Gaza plans

PARIS

French public broadcaster Franceinfo on Thursday pulled a controversial program aired as part of the coverage on US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and resettle Palestinians.

Franceinfo aired a program on Wednesday night, discussing Trump's remarks on Gaza including to turn the enclave into "Riviera of the Middle East."

Franck Delvau, head of UMIH, a union that represents the hospitality industry, and journalist Michel Mompontet were hosted in the program.

Delvau expressed pleasure over Trump's Riviera description, saying Gaza would need infrastructure and time to become a touristic destination.

Mompontet, for his part, asserted that Hamas and Hezbollah are a bigger obstacle to tourism in Gaza than the "bedbug problem."

The broadcast drew backlash, with many users on social media calling it shameful.

In a statement to the French daily Liberation, the communications department of Franceinfo said the broadcast was inappropriate and that they are sorry for it. It said the program was removed from the website.

Trump's shock remarks that the US will "take over" Gaza after relocating Palestinians to other countries such as Egypt and Jordan has been rejected by the Arab world and many other countries including France.