ISTANBUL

Doubling down its opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, China on Thursday rejected any move to turn Gaza into a “bargaining chip for political gains."

“Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an inalienable part of the territory of Palestine, not a bargaining chip for political gains,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told reporters in Beijing.

“The international community should join hands to facilitate humanitarian assistance and reconstruction rather than aggravate the situation there,” said Guo, according to a transcript of his news conference.

Beijing’s reaction comes after US President Donald Trump's shock announcement of plans to take over the Gaza Strip. Earlier, he had called for the relocation of Palestinians in the enclave, destroyed by Israel's relentless bombardment for over 15 months, to Egypt and Jordan. The plan has been opposed by the Arab world and others, who have called it ethnic cleansing.

“China firmly supports the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people,” the spokesperson said. "'Palestinians governing Palestine' is the fundamental way forward for Gaza’s post-conflict governance. We oppose forced displacement of Gazans.”