14 February 2025
The Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs is gravely concerned by U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks suggesting that the United States should “take over” the Gaza Strip and permanently resettle its Palestinian residents elsewhere. If pursued, the population transfer would constitute a clear violation of international law, undermine Palestinian self-determination, and further destabilize an already dire humanitarian and security crisis. These remarks disregard binding humanitarian protections, embolden extremist narratives, and inflame tensions, undermining efforts toward a just and lasting peace.
President Trump’s proposal violates Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949), which explicitly prohibits the forcible transfer of protected persons from occupied territories. International Humanitarian Law, numerous UN Security Council Resolutions and other international legal frameworks affirm that occupied territories cannot be annexed or altered through coercive measures. The mass displacement of Palestinians—whether temporary or permanent—would amount to ethnic cleansing and set a dangerous precedent and exacerbate instability in the region.
Pugwash urges all parties to commit to constructive and inclusive dialogue for future negotiations aimed at rebuilding Palestinian communities as soon as possible, ensuring long-term regional stability and addressing legitimate security concerns for both Israelis and Palestinians. The pursuit of peace cannot be achieved through coercion and dispossession but only through principled and respectful diplomacy, adherence to international law and the well-being of all affected peoples.
Signed on Behalf of the Pugwash Executive Committee
Hussain Al-Shahristani, President
Karen Hallberg, Secretary General|
Tatsujiro Suzuki, Chair of the Executive Committee
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs 