Trump, Netanyahu look to relocate Palestinians voluntarily from Gaza to other countries

USA Today

19 hours ago

The meeting was the third time Trump has hosted Netanyahu since returning to the White House in January and came as they seek a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said they would seek other countries to relocate Palestinians as part of ending Israel's war with Hamas.
Asked about a two-state solution that includes recognition of an independent Palestinian state, Netanyahu said Palestinians had already shown through Hamas that they couldn't be trusted with a neighboring government.
'So people aren't likely to say, 'Let's just give them another state and the platform to destroy Israel,'" Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu added that Israel will 'work out a peace with our Palestinian neighbors – those who don't want to destroy us.' But he said Israel must retain control over security, and that 'we don't care' if people say 'it's not a complete state.'
'We vowed never again,' he said.
Netanyahu said Israel would have to retain control of security over Gaza rather than a complete state.
"I think the Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves, but none of the powers to threaten us," he said. "That means a certain power, like overall security, will always remain in our hands. Now, that is a fact, and no one in Israel will agree to anything else, because we don't commit suicide."
Netanyahu told reporters at the White House that "Trump is bringing a vision" for the region by seeking other countries to locate Palestinians.
Trump called in February for the U.S. to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate roughly 2 million Palestinians to neighboring Arab countries. His goal, he said, is to turn the war-ravaged enclave into the "Riviera of the Middle East."
"It's called free choice," Netanyahu said. "You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn't be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice."
The meeting was the third time Trump has hosted Netanyahu since returning to the White House in January. Netanyahu met earlier with Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy in the Middle East, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio before meeting with the president.
The officials aim for a cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas, which attacked southern Israel in October 2023. The attack killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. About 50 hostages remain, with 20 believed to be alive.
Hamas has demanded an end to the war before it would free remaining hostages. Israel has insisted it would not agree to halt fighting until all hostages are free and Hamas dismantled.
'We need to end this war,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters July 7. 'We need to get all the hostages home. Hamas has to accept this proposal in order to do that.'
Asked if there was a holdup with a cease-fire agreement, Trump said: 'I don't think there is a holdup.'
'Something good will happen': Netanyahu
Netanyahu said Israel was working with Trump to find other countries "to give the Palestinians a better future."
'We've had great cooperation from countries surrounding Israel,' Trump said. 'Something good will happen.'
Israelis cherish life for themselves and their neighbors in "the entire Middle East,' Netanyahu said. But he said Israel can't allow its neighbors to threaten it.