Trump’s Gaza plan should be “pursued and done” – Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended US President Donald Trump’s proposal to displace Palestinians from Gaza, Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters reported on February 6th.
“The actual idea of allowing Gazans who want to leave to leave. I mean, what is wrong with that? They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back. But you have to rebuild Gaza,” Netanyahu said in an interview on Fox News on February 5th.
His remarks followed widespread condemnation of Trump’s comments, in which the US president suggested Palestinians in Gaza should be permanently displaced to other countries and proposed a US takeover of the enclave. Rights groups have labelled the proposal as ethnic cleansing.
Netanyahu rejected claims that Trump intended to deploy US troops in Gaza or that Washington would be financing reconstruction efforts. “This is the first good idea that I have heard,” he said. “It is a remarkable idea, and I think it should be really pursued, examined, pursued and done, because I think it will create a different future for everyone.”
Since January 25th, Trump has repeatedly stated that regional Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, should take in Palestinians from Gaza. The suggestion has been met with firm rejection from both Arab countries and Palestinian leaders.
Five foreign ministers and a Palestinian official sent a joint letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to demonstrate their objection to Trump’s proposal, the Arab Weekly via Reuters reported on February 4th. The joint letter represented Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE, as well as Palestinian presidential adviser Hussein al-Sheikh.
“Reconstruction in Gaza should be through direct engagement with and participation of the people of Gaza. Palestinians will live in their land and help rebuild it,” the letter said.
Asharq Al-Awsat via Reuters
