Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem has warned that US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza and displace its people is a “declaration of intent to occupy” the Palestinian territory, AFP reports.

The Palestinian group also called for “an urgent Arab summit to confront the displacement” of Palestinians from Gaza“, Qassem said in a statement.

“Gaza is for its people and they will not leave,” Qassem said.

“We call for the convening of an emergency Arab summit to confront the displacement project,” he added.

“Trump’s remarks about Washington taking control of Gaza amount to an open declaration of intent to occupy the territory.

“We do not need any country to run the Gaza Strip and we do not accept replacing one occupation with another.

“We call on the Arab peoples and international organisations to take strong action to reject the Trump project.”