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Netanyahu meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas discuss ceasefire

Netanyahu meets Trump at White House as Israel, Hamas discuss ceasefire

TimesLIVE16 hours ago
US President Donald Trump, hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday, said the US had scheduled talks with Iran and indicated progress on a controversial effort to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza.
Speaking to reporters at the beginning of a dinner between US and Israeli officials, Netanyahu said the US and Israel were working with other countries who would give Palestinians a 'better future,' suggesting that the residents of Gaza could move to neighbouring nations.
'If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,' Netanyahu said.
'We're working with the US very closely about finding countries that will seek to realise what they always say, that they wanted to give the Palestinians a better future. I think we're getting close to finding several countries.'
Trump, who initially demurred to Netanyahu when asked about the relocating of Palestinians, said the countries around Israel were helping out. 'We've had great co-operation from ... surrounding countries, great co-operation from every single one of them. So something good will happen,' Trump said.
The president earlier this year floated relocating Palestinians and taking over the Gaza Strip to turn it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East.' Gazans criticised the proposal and vowed never to leave their homes in the coastal enclave. Human rights groups condemned the plan as ethnic cleansing.
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