Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

U.S. President Donald Trump's recent proposal for his country to take over the Gaza Strip is a breach of the two-state solution and a serious violation of UN resolutions, Jordanian scholar Omar Al-Armouti has said on Sunday.

Trump's proposal for the United States to take control of the Gaza Strip and redevelop it after relocating Palestinians has met with widespread condemnation from European, Middle Eastern and other international leaders.

While voicing his opposition, Al-Armouti emphasized the importance of the two-state solution as the path to lasting peace in the region, saying the proposal is eliminating the legitimacy of the State of Palestine.

"Legally and morally, Trump has no right to do this. It is not allowed. As everyone knows, the international community has been advocating for years a two-state solution to establish an independent State of Palestine. But Trump's ideas would put an end to the two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state, both of which are based on UN resolutions," he said.

Al-Armouti said Trump's Gaza plan will not promote peace and stability in the Middle East, but create chaos, adding that such ideas will inevitably lead to strong oppositions from the Arab world and countries around the globe.

"Not only Palestinians, but also Jordanians and the entire Arab world have voiced their strong opposition to Trump's remarks. The international community has also widely rejected his plan," he said.

Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

Trump's Gaza takeover plan violates UN resolutions: Jordanian scholar

The Chinese animated blockbuster Ne Zha 2 began preview screenings in London on Friday ahead of its official release in the country and Ireland on March 21, attracting excited crowds to watch the film in advance.

The film made its debut in the UK at London's BFI IMAX, home to the country's largest IMAX screen and is scheduled to screen in over 250 cinemas of 100 cities across the UK and Ireland during the first week of release.

The film's Europe-wide distributor, Trinity CineAsia, announced that it has acquired theatrical distribution rights for Ne Zha 2 across 37 countries in Europe, including the UK, Ireland, and Germany. This scale of film release is exceptionally rare in the history of overseas distribution for Chinese-language films, reflecting the strong confidence of local cinemas in the movie's market potential.

"The fact that it is here and, you know, that we are getting a lot more influx of films from all across Asia from China, South Korea, Japan, South Asia as well. I think it's really good to kind of like widen the palate, because we all want to escape our little cinematic bubble and see what the rest of the world has to offer," said Jack Martin, a film reviewer, in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV).

"Ne Zha 2" has shattered global box office records to become the No. 1 box office animated film of all times and also the first non-Hollywood production to crack the global all-time top 10 box office chart.

Rooted in 16th-century Chinese mythology with a bold reinterpretation, the movie has attracted attention of global audiences with its stunning visuals, well-crafted storytelling, and deep cultural heritage.

"And I think all these elements show that Ne Zha 2 is both a film that's modern, but also has its roots in something very deep and very ancient," said Cedric Behrel, managing director of Trinity CineAsia, in an interview with the CCTV.

Many audiences attending the preview screening in London have shared their thoughts about the movie in interviews with the CCTV.

"It was moving like heartwarming. Yes, I'll go home now and talk to it to all my friends," said a moviegoer.

"I thought that the humor of the film was really great, but it balances so perfectly with some of the more dramatic and heartfelt moments of it. And yeah, I really, really enjoyed it. And the language barrier was not a problem at all," said another moviegoer.

"We might not speak the same language, but at its heart is a very universal theme of friendship and just trying to do right in the world. And I think that a lot of people really resonate with that. I can see why it's done so well in China already," said Jack Martin.

James Smith, an social media influencer, shared his views about the movie in Chinese language during the interview. He thought the movie can serve as a bridge for foreigners to understand Chinese culture.

"I watched Ne Zha, the 2019 box office hit, in China. When I heard that its sequel was set to debut in the UK today, I rushed to the cinema to see it. It's definitely a great movie, filled with humor, touching moments, and encouragement. My friends often ask me how they can better understand China, because they think I know something about the country. I would say that you can watch the Ne Zha 2, as I believe it's a great film and through which you can learn something about Chinese culture," he said.

Ne Zha 2 begins preview screenings in London, captivating local audiences