Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was “committed” to an American proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip and move his Palestinian residents because the first Washington diplomat was in Saudi Arabia to push the plan, which opposes the Arab states.
In a statement on Monday, Netanyahu said he was “engaged in the plan of the American president Trump for the creation of a different Gaza”.
The Israeli chief also promised that “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian authority” would governed the enclave at the end of the 15 -month war, which killed more than 48,000 Palestinians and led to a disastrous humanitarian crisis.
Netanyahu’s remarks one day come after welcoming “Trump’s daring vision for the future of Gaza” at a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem.
Human rights groups have criticized the Trump administration’s thrust to resume Gaza and forcibly move the Palestinians as a violation of international law amounting to ethnic cleaning.
Supporting Trump’s plan, the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that he would establish a special direction for the “voluntary departure” of the Palestinians from Gaza.
The coordinator of government activities of Israel in territorial unity (COGAT) presented an initial proposal which would see “any resident of Gaza who wishes to emigrate in a third state” would receive “in -depth assistance” to do so, according to the office from Katz.
“This includes special starting agreements through the sea, air and land, among others,” Katz’s office said in a press release.
Trump’s proposal was largely denounced by the Arab countries, but it will be on the agenda during the visits to Rubio in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week.
Rubio was greeted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman on Monday in Riyadh, the last stop on the top of the first visit of the American diplomat in the Middle East.
“The secretary and the crown prince have reaffirmed their commitment to implement the ceasefire in Gaza and to ensure that Hamas publishes all hostages, including American citizens,” said a spokesperson for State Department when reading the discussions.
“The secretary stressed the importance of an arrangement for Gaza which contributes to regional security.”
Saudi Arabia is the spear of Arab efforts to develop a counter-proposition in the Trump plan for Gaza, which could involve a reconstruction fund led by the Gulf and an agreement for the Touche du Hamas.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that he rejected any attempt to move the Palestinians from their land.
Rubio declared in a recent interview that the United States has remained open to alternative proposals for Arab governments, but for the moment, “the only plan is the Trump plan”.
Meanwhile, Israel’s security firm was to discuss the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire on Monday.
The second phase – in which Hamas must release dozens of remaining captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, a sustainable truce and the withdrawal of the Israeli Gaza forces – has not yet been agreed.
The far -right members of the Israeli government, including the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, said that they would leave Netanyahu’s coalition if the war would not resume.
Until now, 19 captives taken in Israel have been released as part of the first phase of the cease-fire agreement that started on January 19. A total of 33 captives should be released at staggered intervals during this stage.
Netanyahu said that “the doors of hell will be open” on Gaza if all the captives are not released.
Reporting the Jordanian capital, Amman, Nour Odeh of Tel Aviv Tribune, noted that the Israeli Prime Minister had faced demonstrations supported by parents and supporters of the captives organized in Gaza.
“They have repeatedly accused the Israeli Prime Minister of trying to derail the talks on the ceasefire in Gaza, not to go to phase two, partly because he really tries to keep his partners Happy coalition, “said Odeh.
The upper members of the Trump administration also called on the agreement to move forward.
MERON RAPOPORT, editor-in-chief of the local press of Israelis news, said that if the government of Netanyahu has little desire to go to the second stage of the ceasefire, it is under pressure on two fronts.
“Netanyahu sees in Trump’s plan the fulfillment of the dream of emptying Gaza of the Palestinians,” said Rapoport to Tel Aviv Tribune de Tel Aviv.
“But at the same time, (it is) under pressure by the United States and by the hostages of the hostages which have not yet been released to enter the second stage.”
He added that the second stage of the agreement “would mean the end of the war” and the potential liberation of eminent Palestinian political prisoners, like Marwan Barghouti.
“And it’s very difficult to swallow for Israel,” said Rapoport.
