The Trump Gaza Ultimatum Is Inadequate

Washington, DC–In response to President Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza published September 29, Human Rights First President and CEO Uzra Zeya commented:

“An immediate and lasting ceasefire, release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained individuals, and lifting of Israel’s draconian restrictions on humanitarian aid flow are long overdue to end the unconscionable, man-made catastrophe in Gaza. Human Rights First would welcome these long-sought developments, but rejects the ultimatum articulated by President Trump on September 29 that boils down to giving Israel a free pass to further punish over two million Gazans should Hamas reject the President’s plan. Regardless of whether the President’s plan succeeds, we need a cease-fire and unfettered aid flow now.”  

She added, “At the same time, the reported lack of Palestinian input into the President’s plan and imposition of a U.S.-led entity, reminiscent of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq, over the people of Gaza are extremely troubling. These aspects of the 20-point plan, coupled with no reference to Palestinians’ democratic rights or international law, hearken back to failed U.S. nation-building of the recent past, which President Trump himself excoriated.”   

Zeya concluded, “Similarly, the absence of any reference to accountability for atrocity crimes committed by parties to the conflict jeopardizes the path to recovery and reconciliation. Rather than target those actors and organizations working to document such alleged crimes, the United States should lift all unilateral sanctions against the International Criminal Court and its staff, UN Special Rapporteur Albanese, and Palestinian human rights organizations imposed earlier this year.”