United States President Donald Trump has welcomed Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, kicking off discussions on the Israel-Hamas conflict and ceasefire.
In a press conference today, the Prime Minister has called Trump “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House."
The day's proceedings began with statements from President Trump suggesting that displaced Palestinian people in Gaza be “permanently” resettled elsewhere.
“I don’t think people should be going back… You can’t live in Gaza right now. I think we need another location. I think it should be a location that’s going to make people happy," said Trump
Trump's comments come as his administration has argued that the current 3-5-year timeline for the reconstruction of Gaza is not feasible.
The President has also previously called on neighbouring Egypt and Jordan to resettle civilians from the war-torn territory but both countries and Palestinian leaders have rejected the option.
“You look over the decades, it’s all death in Gaza,” Trump said.
“This has been happening for years. It’s all death. If we can get a beautiful area to resettle people, permanently, in nice homes where they can be happy and not be shot and not be killed and not be knifed to death like what’s happening in Gaza.”
Emphasis is also being placed on maintaining the Gaza ceasefire as Netanyahu faces pressure from his far-right coalition partners to resume fighting after the first of the deal’s three stages is complete.
Hamas has regained control of Gaza since the ceasefire began in January, but has said it will not release more hostages in the second phase without an end to the war and Israeli forces’ full withdrawal.
Israel's Prime Minister asserts that Israel is committed to victory over Hamas and the return of all hostages captured on 7 October 2023.
“Israel has three goals: Destroy Hamas’s military and governing capabilities, secure the release of all of our hostages, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Trump has also said today that he envisions long-term ownership of the Gaza strip by the U.S. once Palestinians have been moved on, and has not ruled out sending U.S. troops to the region.
“Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land.”
He went on to call Gaza the potential “Riviera of the Middle East” where “the world’s people” could live - including Palestinians.
The Times of Israel reports that Hamas officials have released a statement in response to President Trump’s statements today.
“We consider it a recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region. Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass,” the statement said.
The meeting in the U.S. capital has also sparked protests outside the White House demanding that the administration comply with the International Criminal Court arrest warrant and arrest Netanyahu as a war criminal.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally and supporter of the President, weighed in on the discussion warning that Trump's plans will likely be met with resistance from the country's Arab allies as well as American citizens.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed the media this afternoon saying that he would not continue to engage in running daily commentary on President Trump's statements.
“The Australian position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, as it was 10 years ago, as it was under the Howard government,” he added.
Albanese confirmed that the Federal Government supports "the creation of two states, not just one, and that remains my position, and it has been a bipartisan position up to this point."
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