Netanyahu Links Gaza Ceasefire to Trump’s Civilian Relocation Plan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday laid out new conditions for ending the war in Gaza, tying Israel’s ceasefire to the implementation of a controversial US-backed civilian relocation plan, and reaffirmed strong ties with the American administration despite reports of diplomatic tension.
Speaking at a press conference in Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel’s ongoing military operation, known as Gideon’s Chariots, was designed to fully dismantle Hamas and bring all territory in Gaza under Israeli security control. “Our forces are taking more and more ground in order to clean them of terrorists and from Hamas terror infrastructure,” he said.
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Netanyahu added that Israel had coordinated a three-phase humanitarian aid plan with the United States, including the establishment of a so-called “sterile zone” in southern Gaza where civilians could receive assistance. He defended the renewed flow of aid into the Strip as necessary to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe and maintain political support in Washington. “Israel developed, along with the US, a humanitarian aid plan to keep it out of Hamas’s hands,” he said.
For the war to end, Netanyahu laid out several non-negotiable conditions: the return of all hostages, Hamas’ disarmament and removal from power, and the execution of what he called “the Trump plan”—a reference to President Donald Trump’s proposal for relocating Gaza’s civilian population. “A plan that is so correct and so revolutionary,” Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu insisted relations with the US president were strong, addressing speculation about friction between the leaders. “President Trump said to me, literally: ‘Bibi, I want you to know — I have absolute commitment to you. I have absolute commitment to the State of Israel.’”
He also welcomed US engagement with Gulf states, saying it could support efforts to expand the Abraham Accords. “I believe that can actually help expand the Abraham Accords, which I’m very invested in.”
