Netanyahu backs Trump’s plan to take Gaza from Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that ex-U.S. President Donald Trump had nothing wrong with his proposal to let the Palestinians leave the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu reacted to Trump’s proposition, which was highly criticized by people all over the world.

Trump had said that Palestinians in Gaza needed to be permanently relocated to other countries, while he also insinuated that the United States could take over Gaza. Human rights groups have condemned this idea, calling it “ethnic cleansing,” which means forcing a group of people to leave their homes unfairly.

Netanyahu supports some of Trump’s idea

Netanyahu spoke in an interview with Fox News, but he didn’t comment on Trump’s apparent idea of the U.S. taking over Gaza. He did, however, back the notion of “allowing Gazans who want to leave to leave.”

He explained, “What’s wrong with that? They can go out, come back later, or move to another place and then come back. But Gaza needs to be rebuilt.”

Netanyahu said he doesn’t think Trump was suggesting the US should send soldiers to Gaza to fight Hamas; he also doesn’t believe the US will pay for rebuilding the area.

“This is the first good idea that I’ve heard,” Netanyahu said. “It’s a great idea, and I think people should really weigh it seriously. If it happens, it will change the future for everybody.”

Trump’s idea faces strong criticism

Since January 25, Trump has repeatedly intimated that the Palestinians of Gaza should be taken in by other Arab countries like Egypt and Jordan. Both Egypt and Jordan, however, have made a strong rejection of the Palestinian leaders.

The comments have been defended by Trump’s team, but he later dialed back parts of the plan after criticism from people all over the world.

Meanwhile, Israel’s military attacks have continued in Gaza. Now a ceasefire exists, but the massive destruction caused by the conflict is still evident. According to the Gaza health ministry, in the last 16 months alone, over 47,000 Palestinians have been killed. So far, various countries and human rights groups have accused Israel of war crimes and genocide; however, the latter has denied the accusation.

Most of the people of Gaza have fled their homes due to war, many struggling to find food, amidst crises caused by hunger.

How did this war start?

The recent war between Israel and Palestinian militants began on October 7, 2023. On that day, the Hamas Palestinian militant group attacked Israel. According to the officials of Israel, Hamas fighters killed 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages.

Since then, heavy airstrikes and land attacks by Israel against Gaza continue unabated. The war on both sides brought suffering, having taken away the lives of thousands of people.

It remains a tense situation, and world leaders continue debating what should be next. A great number of countries and organizations urge peace and a long-lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

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What’s the update

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to support U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its Palestinian residents. Netanyahu has described the proposal as a “remarkable idea” and the “first good idea” he has heard regarding Gaza’s future. The plan involves the United States assuming control of Gaza, displacing its 2.3 million Palestinian residents, and transforming the area into a resort destination. In support of this initiative, Netanyahu’s government has directed the Israeli military to prepare for the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza. Internationally, the proposal has faced widespread condemnation. Human rights organizations and Arab nations have labeled it as a violation of international law and akin to ethnic cleansing. Countries such as Egypt and Jordan have rejected the plan and are advocating for alternative solutions that do not involve the displacement of Palestinians.