Peace in Gaza ‘if we carry out Trump’s plan’: Netanyahu

Benjamin Netanyahu has said he’s open to a ‘temporary ceasefire’ in Gaza, but for the first time has made the implementation of Trump’s plan for the enclave a condition for permanent peace.

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters. Picture: AP.

Benjamin Netanyahu has said he’s open to a “temporary ceasefire” in Gaza, but for the first time has made the implementation of Donald Trump’s plan for the enclave a condition for permanent peace.

As international pressure intensifies over Israel’s renewed offensive and aid blockade in Gaza, the Israeli Prime Minister told reporters he was “ready to end the war,” under certain conditions.

These included the return of all hostages, the disarming of Hamas and “we carry out the Trump plan.

“A plan that is so correct and so revolutionary.”

The US President has repeatedly suggested the US should take control of Gaza and move its residents to neighbouring countries. He repeated the suggestion during a tour of the Middle East last week but Israel’s Arab neighbours have refused to contemplate the plan.

Mr Netanyahu also confirmed that by the end of “Operation Gideon’s Chariots” — the expanded operation in Gaza – the entire strip would be in Israel’s hands.

“All the territory of Gaza will be under Israeli security control, and Hamas will be totally defeated,” he said.

He confirmed that a US-backed private group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, will start moving aid into the territory in “coming days”. The United Nations and traditional agencies have said they will not co-operate with the foundation which some have accused of working with Israel.

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem. Picture: AP.

The GHF has said it will distribute some 300 million meals in its first 90 days of operation.

“We must avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve our freedom of operational action,” Mr Netanyahu said.

He said the aid plan has three stages – the entry of “basic food now” into Gaza to prevent a humanitarian crisis; opening aid distribution points in the coming days; and creating a “sterile zone” in southern Gaza for the civilian population to shelter in.

“In this zone, which will be totally free of Hamas, residents of Gaza will receive full humanitarian aid,” he said.

The UN confirmed Wednesday (local time) that it had collected and begun distributing around 90 truckloads of aid into Gaza, marking the first aid distribution in the besieged Palestinian territory since early March. Three days after Israel announced it would allow in limited aid, the United Nations on Wednesday “collected around 90 truckloads of goods from the Kerem Shalom crossing and dispatched them into Gaza,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in a statement.

Mr Netanyahu also confirmed that Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar was “probably dead,” after reports the terror commander’s body was found in a tunnel at the weekend.

With AFP