APGF IS AGAINST TRUMP’S PLAN TO TAKE OVER OF GAZA

ASIA PACIFIC GREENS FEDERATION

Press Statement

APGF IS AGAINST TRUMP’S PLAN TO TAKE OVER OF GAZA

The Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) expresses its serious concern over the US President Donald Trump’s shock announcement for a US takeover of Gaza as it could lead to ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians, their resettlement elsewhere, and even the US military intervention to devastate the whole process of peacebuilding.

The APGF member-parties strongly feel that the Trump Plan to “own” Gaza violates the international law, and that Trump’s vision for a “Riviera for the Middle East” was novel only in seeking to insert the US directly into the heart of one of the most volatile, long-running conflicts in the world.

The Middle East is already in a period of profound transformation — rife with uncertainty. Therefore, it has to aim at bringing a permanent end to the fighting and free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. 

The APGF believes that the invasion of Gaza, which resulted in genocide, is something that should never have occurred; and nothing justified the appalling 7 October terror attacks by Hamas; and, nothing justified the grave levels of death and destruction inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza by the State of Israel. 

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023. This had triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has claimed more than 47,000 Palestinians’ lives.

Over the past 15 months, all of us witnessed unimaginable tragedy as Gaza with a population of more than two million has been invaded and tens of thousands of people have lost their lives.

While many challenges lie ahead, the Asia Pacific Greens Federation (APGF) appreciates the long-overdue relief this moment provides for Palestinians in Gaza and the hostages reunited with their families and loved ones. 

We, at the APGF, have been relentless in calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, and an immediate action to protect civilians and ensure the delivery of life-saving aid to all those in need.

We must understand the colonial plan as well, and reject it. Instead, insist on rights of Palestinian refugees to return to all their lands they were removed from. Only then
can all — Jews, Christians, Muslims, and others can live together in equality
and justice and peace in one country.

A six-week-long ceasefire deal between the State of Israel and Hamas, announced on 15 January this year, is welcome and overdue. 

The APGF hopes that the ceasefire deal will result in – 

• Release of about 1,900 Palestinian prisoners by Israel
• Release of a total 33 Israeli hostages by Hamas
• Evacuation of Israeli forces from the populated areas and eventually their complete withdrawal
• Allowing aid lorries into Gaza each day including the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East) to perform their functions like delivering food, water, medicine, fuel, shelter, and materials to repair infrastructure across Gaza, including the north a permanent ceasefire will be established
• Allowing the displaced Palestinian civilians to return to their neighbourhoods
• Return of all remaining bodies of dead hostages
• Reconstruction of Gaza, which is expected to take years
• Establishment of a permanent ceasefire

Besides, the APGF is of the opinion that even after the permanent ceasefire, the following tasks needed to be carried out —

• An end to the arms trade between the State of Israel and many countries
• Access of the international media into Gaza to report from the ground
• Protection of civilians, and those seeking to return to their communities 
• Removal of the explosives, and respectful recovery of human remains
• The UN Security Council and all Member States support implementation of the permanent ceasefire, achieve a permanent cessation of hostilities, ensure accountability, and create the conditions for recovery and reconstruction