US President Donald Trump has welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House where the pair engaged in pivotal talks on the Middle East agenda.
Prior to the meeting, Mr Trump suggested the people of Gaza should be permanently resettled in neighbouring countries and that “they should get a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land”.
The meeting marked the first in-person visit by a foreign leader since Mr Trump returned to office two weeks ago, and an effort to turn the page on sometimes tense relations with former president Joe Biden.
Their meeting coincides with the start of mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas on the crucial second stage of the ceasefire deal and hostage release.
It’s understood the two world leaders discussed the next phase of the fragile three-stage Gaza ceasefire, Iran’s nuclear threat, and normalising relations with Saudi Arabia.
The second stage of the ceasefire deal is hoped to pave the way to ending the war with the release of all hostages and a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu met in the White House Oval Office. (Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
Earlier this week, Mr Trump acknowledged there were no assurances that the ceasefire would hold.
The region is at a critical juncture, with the Gaza truce fragile, a parallel Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire agreement in Lebanon nearing possible expiration, and concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Speaking from the Oval Office prior to their meeting, Donald Trump signed a string of new orders, including a presidential memorandum meant to block Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon and to limit its oil exports.
He also signed a directive to stop US engagement with the United Nations Human Rights Council and continue a halt to funding for the UN Palestinian relief agency UNRWA.
Asked what his main message was for the Israeli leader, Mr Trump told reporters: “he’s here to see me and I’m here to listen”.
Trump again suggests resettling Palestinians from Gaza
Adding to the unease, Mr Trump has doubled down on his suggestion for Gazans to be relocated either temporarily or permanently to neighbouring countries such as Egypt and Jordan.
It comes after the president last week indicated his plan for the Gaza Strip was to “clean out the whole thing”.
Speaking from the White House on Tuesday, local time, Mr Trump reiterated his interest in neighbouring nations taking in Palestinians.
When asked if the move would amount to forcibly displacing people from Gaza, the president said “I think if they had the opportunity they’d love it”.
“I mean they’re there because they have no alternative. What do they have? It is a big pile of rubble right now,” Mr Trump said.
“I think they should get a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land and we get some people to put up the money to build it and make it nice and make it habitable and enjoyable.”
Donald Trump spoke to the press after signing a memo that aims to block Iran from achieving a nuclear weapon. (Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
Jordan, Egypt and other Arab nations, as well as Palestinian leaders, have vehemently rejected the idea.
The US president’s comments have sparked concern that his suggestion could result in Palestinians being permanently driven from their homes.
When reporters pressed the president on why Palestinians would want to leave Gaza, Mr Trump said: “why would they want to return? The place has been hell”.
“You could build four or five or six areas. It doesn’t have to be one area, but you take certain areas and you build really good quality housing, like a beautiful town.
“Some place where they can live and not die, because Gaza is a guarantee that they’re going to end up dying.”
The president’s comments come as tens of thousands of Palestinians return to Gaza’s north after 15 months of war that’s killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza officials, who have added thousands more missing and now presumed dead.
Faisal Aranki, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, reportedly told Newsweek Mr Trump’s proposal was controversial and raised “many humanitarian and political issues”.
“On the one hand, some see it as an immoral step that exposes Palestinians to additional suffering, especially since the forced displacement of people is a violation of human rights and leads to further escalation and conflict,” Mr Aranki told Newsweek.
“On the other hand, some may see it as part of an attempt to find a long-term solution to the Palestinian issue,” he continued, “but there are always concerns that such solutions marginalise the basic rights of Palestinians to return and live in dignity on their land.”
Officials defend Trump’s comments as ‘common sense’
Steve Witkoff and Michael Waltz address the press prior to the Trump-Netanyahu talks. (Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
Earlier, senior advisors defended Mr Trump’s comments and insisted he was trying to take a “common sense approach”.
“When the president talks about cleaning it out, he talks about making it habitable and this is a long-range plan,” US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff said.
“As to where people will go, that’s a big issue and we have to solve that and that’s what we’re here to do.”
Later in the week, Mr Netanyahu is expected to meet with US military leaders at the Pentagon and members of Congress after already meeting with senior US officials earlier this week.
Israel remains one of America’s biggest and most controversial allies.
The Israeli leader’s presence in Washington is expected to be met with protests from Pro-Palestinian groups as well as those calling for the release of remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Trump to meet with King of Jordan
Steve Witkoff is set to meet the prime minister of Qatar later this week for further talks. (Reuters: Elizabeth Frantz)
Senior officials confirmed King Abdullah II of Jordan is expected to visit the US next week to meet with Mr Trump.
Mr Witkoff also announced plans to meet with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Bin Jassim Al Thani in Florida on Thursday, local time.
The Gulf nation has served as an important mediator in the negotiations to secure a ceasefire and ensure the release of hostages.
“We’ll be going over all these things with him … so we’re all dug in,” Mr Witkoff said.
“Part of the problem is that it wasn’t such a wonderful agreement that was first signed.
“That was not dictated by the Trump administration. We had nothing to do with it. So now we’re working within that rubric, and we’re figuring things out.”
with Wires
