**Trump** and **Netanyahu** Discuss Controversial Gaza Relocation Plan
Leaders explore “voluntary migration” amid ceasefire talks.
In a White House meeting, **Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu** and **US President Donald Trump** revisited a contentious proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza, even as ceasefire negotiations continue. The idea is drawing criticism and raising concerns about potential forced displacement.
Key Development
**Netanyahu** stated that he is working closely with the United States to find countries willing to provide Palestinians with a better future. He suggested Palestinians should have the option to leave Gaza, turning it into an open place of free choice.
“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.
Reportedly, **Trump** echoed that sentiment, reaffirming his support and claiming there has been “great cooperation”
from neighboring countries.
Criticism and Concerns
However, the proposal is facing strong condemnation. According to an Al Jazeera correspondent in Amman, Jordan, the idea has been described by some as a form of ethnic cleansing.
“This is something the Israelis have been saying for some time, calling it the ‘voluntary migration’ of Palestinians from their homelands. But of course, this has been condemned as ethnic cleansing,”
said **Hamdah Salhut**.
Former Israeli diplomat **Alon Pinkas** emphasized that despite repeated statements, there is no concrete plan for relocation.
“The fact that the Israeli defence minister blurts some ideas out, or even the prime minister, or even the president of the United States, doesn’t mean there is a plan,”
he noted.
**Pinkas** also cautioned that such concepts are a “recipe for catastrophe because it ensures that no [post-war] agreement in Gaza is durable.”
Ceasefire Negotiations Continue
Indirect ceasefire negotiations are ongoing in Qatar, with Israeli and Hamas negotiators discussing a possible 60-day halt in fighting. According to the UN, as of early July 2024, over 1.7 million people, or over 70% of Gaza’s population, have been forcibly displaced (UN News).
The proposed framework includes a phased release of captives, Israeli withdrawals from parts of Gaza, and broader talks to end the war.
While **Trump** suggested a ceasefire agreement could be reached soon, no official announcements have been made.
Nobel Prize Nomination and Iran Talks
During the meeting, **Netanyahu** presented **Trump** with a letter used to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. **Trump** also mentioned that Iran had reached out to restart talks on its nuclear program, possibly within a week.
Iranian President **Masoud Pezeshkian** expressed his belief that differences with Washington could be resolved through dialogue in an interview with **Tucker Carlson**.
