Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he is actively working to implement US President Donald Trump's proposal to evacuate and relocate Gaza’s population.
Following a meeting in Jerusalem with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, Netanyahu confirmed that Israel and the US were coordinating on a unified approach regarding the Palestinian enclave.
The discussion took place after Trump put forward a plan for the U.S. to assume control of Gaza and relocate its two million Palestinian residents to neighboring countries.
The United Nations has strongly opposed any forced displacement of civilians from occupied territories, emphasizing that such actions violate international law and could constitute ethnic cleansing.
America’s top diplomat acknowledged that Trump’s proposal may have been unexpected, but he praised the initiative as a bold departure from outdated approaches.
Netanyahu affirmed that he and Rubio had explored strategies to put Trump's vision into action, highlighting that Israel and the U.S. share a unified stance on Gaza.
The Israeli prime minister also issued a stark warning, stating that failure to secure the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas would lead to dire consequences.
Rubio reinforced this position, asserting that Hamas must be dismantled as a military and governing entity, as its continued presence poses a fundamental obstacle to peace.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
The fighting has caused devastation in Gaza, where more than 48,200 people have been killed during the 16-month war, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.
Most of Gaza's population has also been displaced multiple times, almost 70% of buildings are estimated to be damaged or destroyed, the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed, and there are shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter.
Palestinian and Arab leaders have widely rejected Trump's Gaza takeover plan, with the Palestinian Authority and Hamas emphasising that Palestinian land is "not for sale".
Unlike previous US peace efforts in the region, the US top diplomat did not meet any Palestinian leaders to discuss the future of Gaza.
Source: BBC
BDST: 1012 HRS, FEB 17, 2025
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