Netanyahu, Trump claim progress in plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to other countries

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have hinted at "progress" in the planned move to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza. Trump had called for the US. to take over the Gaza Strip and relocate roughly 2 million Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries in February as part of turning the war-ravaged enclave into the "Riviera of the Middle East."

Netanyahu, who is on a visit to the White House, told reporters that they were working with other countries that could give Palestinians a "better future.

"If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave," Netanyahu said. "We're working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realise what they always say, that they wanted to give the Palestinians a better future. I think we're getting close to finding several countries," Netanyahu said.  

Though Trump didn't mention which countries around Israel had expressed willingness, Trump said they have had great cooperation from "surrounding countries, great cooperation from every single one of them. So something good will happen."

Netanyahu said it was all a free choice. "You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn't be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice," he said.

The relocation plan was criticised by Gazans, who vowed never to leave their homes in the coastal enclave. Human Rights groups condemned the plan as ethnic cleansing.

Israel-Hamas ceasefire

The ceasefire negotiations between Israeli officials and Hamas continue, and this would entail the phased release of hostages and the flow of aid into the besieged enclave. Trump’s foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, will soon join the talks, and the deal could be reached this week, according to Trump's prediction. "I think there’s a good chance we have a deal with Hamas during the week, during the coming week, pertaining to quite a few of the hostages," Trump told reporters on Sunday ahead of his meeting with Netanyahu.

The proposal was accepted by Israel immediately, but Hamas has sought adjustments, though they have responded positively. Israel also announced it would send a team to take part in proximity talks, one of the last stages in the process before a final deal. "They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire," Trump said.

On talks with Iran, Trump has said that his administration would be meeting with Iranian officials. "We have scheduled Iran talks, and they ... want to talk. They took a big drubbing," he said. The meeting would take place in the next week or so.

This came as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in an interview released on Monday, that he believed Iran could resolve its differences with the United States through dialogue.

Middle East