Global condemnation for Trump's Gaza resort plan

President Donald Trump's plan for the US to take over war-torn Gaza and create a 'Riviera of the Middle East' after resettling Palestinians elsewhere has shattered US policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sparked widespread criticism.

The shock move from Trump, a former New York property developer, was swiftly condemned by international powers, with regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia, which Trump hopes will establish ties with Israel, rejecting the plan outright.

Turkey called the proposal "unacceptable" and France said it risked destabilizing the Middle East.

Countries from Russia, China, Spain, Ireland and the UK said they continued to support the two-state solution that has formed the basis of Washington's policy in the region for decades.

Trump, in his first major Middle East policy message, said he envisioned building a resort where international communities could live in harmony after over 15 months of Israeli bombardment devastated the tiny coastal enclave and killed more than 47,000 people.

Trump's son-in-law and former aide, Jared Kushner, last year described Gaza as "valuable" waterfront property.

The casual proposal sent diplomatic shockwaves across the Middle East and around the globe. China said it opposed the forced transfer of Palestinians.

"China has always believed that Palestinians governing Palestine is the basic principle of post-conflict governance," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.

An official from Palestinian militant group Hamas, said Trump's statement was "ridiculous and absurd."

Trump provided no specifics of his plan, unveiled at a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too ... we're going to develop it ... and it'll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of," Trump said.

REUTERS