Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he is working with US President Donald Trump to implement a plan to resettle Gaza’s population. After meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem, Netanyahu stated that both countries have a shared strategy for the Palestinian territory.
This discussion follows Trump’s proposal to have the US take over Gaza and relocate the two million Palestinians to neighboring countries. The UN has warned that forcing civilians to move from occupied territories is illegal under international law and could be considered ethnic cleansing.
The US Secretary of State mentioned that Trump’s plan might have surprised people, but he believed it was bold to offer a new approach instead of old ideas. Netanyahu confirmed that he and Rubio discussed ways to make Trump’s vision happen and that the US and Israel agreed on the Gaza issue.
He also warned that there would be severe consequences if Hamas did not release all Israeli hostages.
“Hamas can not continue as a military or government force,” Rubio added. “And as long as it stands as a force that can govern or administer or a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible.”
The Israeli military started a campaign to destroy Hamas after a cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, where about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage. The fighting has caused severe damage in Gaza, with over 48,200 deaths in the 16-month war, according to Gaza’s health ministry run by Hamas.
Most people in Gaza have been displaced many times, and nearly 70% of buildings are damaged or destroyed. The systems for healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene have collapsed, and there are shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.
Palestinian and Arab leaders have rejected Trump’s plan to take over Gaza, stating that Palestinian land is “not for sale.” The US top diplomat did not meet with any Palestinian leaders to discuss Gaza’s future, unlike previous US peace efforts in the region.
At a joint news conference on Sunday, Rubio and Netanyahu discussed shared goals, such as removing Hamas’s control in Gaza, preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and monitoring developments in Syria after Assad.