Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the US proposal to take over the Gaza Strip and drive away Palestinian residents as Washington’s top diplomats were in Saudi Arabia to promote plans against Arab countries. said it was “committed.”
In a statement Monday, Netanyahu said he is “committed to President Trump’s plans for the creation of another Gaza.”
The Israeli leader also promised that “neither Hamas nor Palestinian authority” would not control the enclave at the end of the 15-month war.
Netanyahu’s remarks come the day after he welcomed “Trump’s bold vision for the future of Gaza” in a meeting with Jerusalem Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Human rights groups have condemned the Trump administration’s push to take over Gaza and force Palestinians to replace them as a violation of international law equivalent to ethnic cleansing.
The proposal has also been widely criticized by Arab countries, but is expected to be on the agenda during Rubio’s visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week.
Rubio was welcomed in Riyadh on Monday by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudi Arabia is leading Arab efforts to develop counter-proposed proposals against Gaza’s plans that could involve a Gulf-led recovery fund and a deal to sideline Hamas.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would refuse to attempt to drive the Palestinians out of their land.
Rubio said in a recent interview that the US remains open to alternative proposals from the Arab government, but for now the “only plan is the Trump plan.”
Meanwhile, Israeli security ministers were expected to discuss the second phase of Gaza ceasefire on Monday.
Stage 2 – Hamas is to release dozens of remaining prisoners in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a permanent ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza – has not yet been agreed.
Far-right members of the Israeli government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have said they will stop the Netanyahu coalition if the war does not resume.
So far, 19 Israeli prisoners have been released as part of the first phase of the ceasefire contract, which began on January 19th. At this stage, a total of 33 prisoners are expected to be released at staggered intervals.
Netanyahu says that if all prisoners are not released, “the gates of hell will be opened” to Gaza.
In a report from the Jordanian capital Amman, Al Jazeera’s Noor Ode noted that Israeli Prime Minister faces sustained protests from prisoner-centered and supporters held in Gaza.
“They repeatedly accused the Israeli Prime Minister of trying to derail talks about the Gaza ceasefire, and attempted not to go to Phase 2.
Senior members of the Trump administration are also urging the deal to advance.
US Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that the second phase of the deal “is absolutely going to start.”
“We’re not leaving anyone behind,” he said, referring to the remaining prisoners.
Melon Rapoport, editor of Israeli news outlet local call, said Netanyahu’s government barely wants to move to the second phase of the ceasefire, but it is under pressure on two sides.
“Netanyahu is seeing the realisation of his dream of emptying Gaza for Palestinians with Trump’s plan,” Rapoport told Al Jazeera in Tel Aviv.
“But at the same time [he is] The United States and the families of hostages who have not yet been released are under pressure to enter the second stage. ”
He added that the second phase of the contract “means the end of the war,” and that there is the potential release of prominent Palestinian political prisoners, such as Marwan Barghuti.
“And this is very difficult for Israel to swallow,” Rapoport said.
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