Spain Rejects Israel's Suggestion Take in Palestinians

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Thursday rejected the suggestion by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz that Spain should accept displaced Palestinians from Gaza.

"Gazans' land is Gaza and Gaza must be part of the future Palestinian state," Albares said in an interview with Spanish radio station RNE.

Katz ordered the army Thursday to prepare a plan to allow the "voluntary departure" of residents from the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported.

The instruction followed President Donald Trump's shock announcement that the United States plans to take over Gaza, resettle the Palestinians living there and transform the territory into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Katz added Spain, Ireland and Norway, which last year recognized a Palestinian state, are "legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories."