Netanyahu says Israel committed to Trump’s ‘take over’ Gaza plan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he is "committed" to the plan proposed by the United States to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate Palestinian residents. Concurrently, a senior U.S. diplomat is promoting this plan in Saudi Arabia, despite opposition from Arab nations.

Netanyahu said in a statement on Monday that he is "committed to President Trump's plan to create a different Gaza." He also pledged that "neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority" would rule the enclave after the 15-month war, which has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths and triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, comes to an end.

Netanyahu's remarks came a day after he met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem, where he praised "Trump's bold vision for the future of Gaza." Human rights organizations have condemned the Trump administration's push to take over Gaza and forcibly relocate Palestinians, arguing that it violates international law and constitutes ethnic cleansing.

In support of Trump's plan, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that he would establish a special department responsible for the "voluntary departure" of Palestinians from Gaza. Katz's office stated that the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has put forward a preliminary plan that would provide "extensive assistance" to "any Gazan resident who wishes to immigrate to a third country," including "special departure arrangements via sea, land, and air."

Trump's proposal has been widely condemned by Arab countries, but it will be on the agenda during Rubio's visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week. Rubio was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Monday, the latest stop on the senior U.S. diplomat's first trip to the Middle East. "The Secretary and the Crown Prince reaffirmed their commitment to achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and ensuring the release of all hostages, including U.S. citizens," a U.S. State Department spokesperson said in a readout of the meeting. "The Secretary underscored the importance of arrangements in Gaza for regional security."

Saudi Arabia is leading Arab nations in developing an alternative plan to Trump's Gaza proposal, which could include a Gulf state-led reconstruction fund and an agreement to marginalize Hamas. The Saudi Foreign Ministry has stated that it rejects any attempts to displace Palestinians from their land. Rubio said in a recent interview that the United States remains open to alternative proposals from Arab governments, but for now, "the only plan on the table is Trump's plan."

Meanwhile, the Israeli security cabinet is expected to discuss the second phase of a Gaza ceasefire on Monday. The second phase—in which Hamas would release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting truce, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza—has not yet been agreed upon. Far-right members of the Israeli government, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have said they will leave Netanyahu's coalition if the war is not resumed.

So far, 19 hostages abducted from Israel have been released as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement that began on January 19. A total of 33 hostages are expected to be released in phases during this stage. Netanyahu has stated that "the gates of hell will open in Gaza" if all the hostages are not released.

Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, Jordan, said that the Israeli prime minister is facing ongoing protests from relatives and supporters of those held captive in Gaza. "They have repeatedly accused the Israeli prime minister of trying to sabotage the negotiations about a ceasefire in Gaza, of trying not to get into the second phase, partly because he's really trying to appease his coalition partners," Odeh explained. Senior members of the Trump administration have also called for the agreement to move forward.

Meron Rapoport, editor of the Israeli news organization Local Call, stated that while Netanyahu's government is reluctant to enter the second phase of the ceasefire, it is facing pressure from two sides. "Netanyahu sees in Trump's plan the realization of the dream of emptying Gaza of Palestinians," Rapoport told Al Jazeera in Tel Aviv. "But at the same time, he is under pressure from the United States and from the families of the hostages who have not yet been released to enter the second phase." He added that the second phase of the agreement "will mean the end of the war" and the possibility of releasing prominent Palestinian political prisoners such as Marwan Barghouti. "This is difficult for Israel to accept," Rapoport said.