Netanyahu ‘likely not told of Trump plans to take over Gaza’

Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly told of Donald Trump‘s plans to rebuild Gaza before he went into talks in the Oval Office, but likely didn’t know he would announce publicly the US would ‘take it over.’

Benjamin Netanyahu appeared surprised when Donald Trump announced the US would ‘take over’ the Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP.

Benjamin Netanyahu was reportedly told before he went into talks in the Oval Office on Tuesday (local time) of Donald Trump‘s plans to rebuild Gaza, but likely did not know the President would announce publicly the US would “take over” the enclave.

The Israeli Prime Minister appeared taken aback when Mr Trump announced in a joint press conference that the US would resettle more than two million Palestinians out of Gaza, and turn the Palestinian territory into a new “Riviera.”

Mr Netanyahu told reporters Mr Trump’s plan “would change history,” but his apparent surprise at the announcement led to speculation that it was the first the Prime Minister had heard of the plan.

Israeli media reports that Mr Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz informed Mr Netanyahu’s advisers of the rebuild plans before the two leaders met at the White House.

However, Israel’s Channel 12 TV reports that Mr Netanyahu’s team was told the “evacuation and reconstruction” plan entailed reconstruction of Gaza under American auspices, not a complete US takeover of the enclave, as Mr Trump announced in his press conference.

Benjamin Netanyahu answers questions during the joint press conference. Picture: AFP.

Amid consternation in Israel that the proposal might derail the second stage of ceasefire negotiations with Israel, Channel 12 reports: “Netanyahu’s office is talking in terms of euphoria, but they too are confused and don’t know what this will do to the continuation of the hostage deal.”

A source in Mr Netanyahu’s office told the broadcaster: “No one can know whether this will lead Hamas to refuse to move forward with the deal.”

Ynet TV reported that Jerusalem was concerned Hamas’s reaction might go so far as to halt the next release of hostages, due on Saturday.

On Thursday (AEDT), Mr Netanyahu seemed to have committed to the Trump plan, telling Fox News: “This is the first good idea that I’ve heard.”

“It’s a remarkable idea,” he told Sean Hannity. “And I think it should be examined, pursued, and done because I think it will create a different future for everyone.”

He added: “I don’t think he talked about sending US troops to complete the job of destroying Hamas. “I also don’t think he said he’s going to fund it. He said that neighboring states, wealthy states, would do it.

“But the actual idea of allowing Gazans who want to leave to leave, I mean, what’s wrong with that? They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back.”

On Thursday (AEDT), the White House administration appeared to backtrack over the takeover plan, after widespread criticism from Arab governments and world leaders.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said any transfer of Gazans would only be temporary, while the White House insisted there was no commitment to sending US troops.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington would not fund Gaza’s reconstruction, adding that US involvement “does not mean boots on the ground” or that “American taxpayers will be funding this effort”.

After meeting with Mr Netanyahu on Wednesday (local time), US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth declined to say whether US troops could be deployed to Gaza, but said: “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over again.”

“The president is willing to think outside the box. To find new and unique ways to solve problems that felt like they were intractable,” he said. “We are prepared to look at all options.”

Negotiations for phase two of the ceasefire deal have begun behind closed doors in Doha. However Ynet TV reports that while the Israeli negotiating team is expected to leave for Doha this Saturday, it will only discuss the continuation of the first phase of the deal.

In his press conference with Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump said there was no certainty the deal would continue because “we are dealing with complicated people and a complicated situation.”

Channel 12 reported that a source close to Mr Trump sent a message to the families of the hostages reiterating his commitment to the release of all hostages still held in Gaza.

Egypt and Jordan have rejected any resettlement from Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for a swift reconstruction “without the Palestinians leaving”.

Jordan’s King Abdullah II, meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, rejected “any attempts” to take control of Palestinian territories and displace people.

The European Union stressed that “Gaza is an integral part of a future Palestinian state”.

The United Arab Emirates rejected “any attempts of displacement” saying “regional stability can only be attained through the two-state solution”, while Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said: “We are opposed to the forced transfer of the residents of Gaza.” The Arab League called Trump’s proposal a “recipe for instability”. Israeli human rights group B’Tselem condemned Trump’s plan as “deranged and reprehensible”, calling it a “moral stain on all involved”.

With AFP