PUBLISHED 07/07/2025 11:23 | Edited 07/07/2025 11:31
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended on Monday (7) the mass relocation plan of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the White House.
“If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said when questioned by journalists about the reports that Israel intends to force the Palestinian population for force outside the enclave.
“It should not be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice,” he said.
The Israeli Premier called Trump’s vision of Gaza’s future and confirmed that his government is working “very closely with the United States” to find countries willing to welcome the expelled population from Palestinian territory.
According to him, “we are coming close to finding several countries.” The proposal is condemned by human rights organizations, Arab countries and sectors of international diplomacy as an ethnic cleaning plan.
Netanyahu’s visit to Washington occurs amid indirect negotiations with Hamas for a 60-day ceasefire, mediated by Qatar and with US supervision.
Although conversations advance, the main differences remain Israel’s requirement to maintain control over humanitarian aid and refusal to end the war before the release of hostages.
The United States has pressured Netanyahu to accept the terms of the agreement, but the prime minister avoids committing publicly.
Outside the White House, hundreds of protesters gathered with Palestinian flags, portraits of war victims and posters asking for Netanyahu’s arrest.
It was Netanyahu’s third visit to the White House since the return of the Republican to the US presidency. Trump and his advisers seemed to try to capitalize on any impulse created by Iran’s virtual weakening – who supports Hamas – to press both sides by a breakthrough in the 21 -month war in Gaza.
Trump and Netanyahu celebrate bombing to Iran and avoid commitment to solution of two states
During the meeting, Trump and Netanyahu also celebrated recent attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, comparing Harry Truman’s offensive to launch atomic bombs about Japan.
“This prevented many fights, and this prevented many fights here too,” said Trump. He stated that US forces have reached “not just the great [alvo]but three places, one deep and granitic, which was obliterated. ”
Trump said Iran “took a beating” and now “wants to talk.” Although he said he would like to suspend sanctions against the country, the president said he intends to “put something on paper” and that a meeting with the Iranians should take place in the coming days. “They gained a lot of respect for us and Israel,” he said.
Netanyahu avoided commenting directly on the resumption of negotiations with Iran, but stated that the end of Iranian influence in Syria represents an opportunity to expand regional stability.
“Hezbollah has been taken on their knees. Iran is out of the game. This has opportunities for stability, security and eventually peace,” he said, although he has not confirmed if Israel is talking to the current Syrian government.
The possible rapprochement with Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Syria, was treated with cautious enthusiasm by Trump allies.
According to the New York Times, the US President bets on the expansion of Abraham’s agreements-pacts signed during his first term that normalized the relations between Israel and Gulf countries-as diplomatic legacy of his second term.
Netanyahu rejects Palestinian sovereignty
Netanyahu used the meeting to reiterate his opposition to a sovereign Palestinian state.
“I think Palestinians should have all the powers to self -government, but none of the powers to threaten us. This means that sovereign powers, such as general security, will always remain in our hands,” he said.
He added that the experience with Gaza shows that the granting of sovereignty would result in attacks.
“After October 7, people said the Palestinians have a state, a state of Hamas in Gaza, and see what they did to him,” he said.
Trump, in turn, avoided answering directly if he supports the two -state solution and referred the question to Netanyahu. The US president said he only wishes to reach a “very soon” ceasefire agreement and that Hamas “wants to meet” to negotiate the truce.
According to White House spokesman Karoline Leavitt, the US government’s priority is currently ensuring the release of hostages and ending fighting.
“There is a ceasefire proposal supported by Israel that was sent to Hamas, and we hope they agree with this proposal,” he said.
Agreement still depends on humanitarian aid, while Israeli offensive intensifies
Although the representatives of Israel and Hamas resume the negotiations in Doha, brokered by Qatar and the US special Steve Witkoff, the main impasse around the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza.
Palestinian sources informed the Haaretz That Israel insists on maintaining control over supply delivery, preventing independent channels such as the Red Crescent and the UN.
The Israeli government wants to exclude Humanitarian Foundation Gaza, claiming that there is no way to prevent Hamas from taking over groceries without pre-approved distribution lists.
Chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, shares this vision, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has pressed Netanyahu to freeze any flexibility at this point.
A proposal outline discussed in Qatar provides for an alternative mechanism, without direct mention to the Humanitarian Foundation, but negotiations remain stagnant. According to an officer familiar with the conversations, “they were productive, but we are still expecting a decision.”
Meanwhile, the Israeli offensive intensifies in various regions of the Gaza Strip. More than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the war, according to the Ministry of Health, and almost 500,000 faces imminent risk of hunger.
Source: vermelho.org.br
