ISTANBUL

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem issued an urgent appeal Friday that urged opposition to plans for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.

A statement by the churches came in response to US President Donald Trump’s plans for relocating Gaza’s population to neighboring countries such as Jordan and Egypt and for the potential US control of the Palestinian territory.

It "warned of the grave dangers" posed by the plans and stressed the importance of supporting the firm stances taken by Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other leaders who "have clearly opposed any attempts to uproot Gaza’s residents."

Church leaders categorically rejected what they described as a "looming threat" of mass forced displacement, calling it "a direct assault on human dignity and fundamental human rights."

Trump has floated the idea of resettling Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt, Jordan and other countries. He also said the US would “take over” the enclave and turn it into a tourist destination.

The plan has drawn widespread condemnation from the Arab world and beyond.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement has been in place in Gaza since Jan. 19, pausing the Israeli war that has killed more than 48,200 people, mostly women and children, and left the Palestinian enclave in ruins from Israel's bombardment for more than 15 months.