Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls US President Trump ‘greatest friend of Israel’, discusses eliminating Hamas

2025-02-05 01:36:00

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called US President Donald Trump the “greatest friend” his country has ever had in the White House as the two leaders met in the Oval Office. The Israeli leader also suggested that the US President’s “willingness to think outside the box with fresh ideas” will help the Jewish nation achieve its goals to eliminate Hamas amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

Netanyahu visited the White House on Tuesday, with the latter becoming the first foreign leader to visit the Oval Office since Trump took office as President on January 20. Besides the Gaza war, the two leaders also discussed strategies to counter Iran and hopes for a renewed push for an Israel-Saudi Arabia normalisation deal.

During a joint press conference, Trump made a shock announcement that the US would take over the war-torn Gaza Strip, which he referred to as a “demolition site”, and redevelop it after Palestinians were resettled elsewhere.

Netanyahu praised the President’s announcement, saying the idea could “change history” and that it is “worthwhile really pursuing this avenue”.

Trump announced that he discussed how Hamas could be eliminated during his closed-door Oval Office meeting with Netanyahu, while also suggesting that Iran “cannot have a nuclear weapon” and would love to be able to “make a great deal” with the Islamic nation in order to avoid a catastrophic situation.

  • Donald Trump said he intends to visit Gaza after suggesting that the US should take a “long-term ownership position” of the besieged enclave. “I love Israel. I will visit there, and I’ll visit Gaza, and I’ll visit Saudi Arabia, and I’ll visit other places all over the Middle East. The Middle East is an incredible place, so vibrant, it’s just one of the really beautiful places with great people,” he said during the joint press conference with Netanyahu.

  • On Trump’s announcement of US taking over Gaza, Benjamin Netanyahu said the President “sees a different future for that piece of land that has been the focus of so much terrorism. I think it’s worth paying attention to this. We’re talking about it”.

  • When asked if Palestinians who leave Gaza will be allowed to resettle in the future, Trump said, “People living there. The world’s people… I don’t want to be cute. I don’t want to be a wiseguy. But this could be the Riviera of the Middle East.”

  • Trump avoided a question about a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. “It doesn’t mean anything about a two-state or a one-state or any other state,” the President said, adding that the people of Gaza “have never had a chance at life”.

  • Netanyahu suggested that Israel will win the Gaza war “by winning the war”, adding that it would also be a victory for the US as well. He also said that “if this toxic and murderous organisation (Hamas) is left standing, any more than you could make peace in Europe after World War II if the Nazi regime was left standing and the Nazi army was left standing”.

  • Trump calls on Jordan, Egypt and other Arab countries to take in Palestinians from Gaza temporarily while reconstruction takes place. “I hope that we could do something where they wouldn’t want to go back. Who would want to go back? They’ve experienced nothing but death and destruction.”

  • The President expressed uncertainty on whether the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel will hold. “I can’t tell you whether or not the ceasefire will hold. We’ve done, I think, a very masterful job. We weren’t helped very much by the Biden administration, I can tell you that, but we’ve gotten quite a few hostages out. We’re going to get more out, but we’re dealing with very complex people.”

  • Trump did not rule out sending US troops to secure Gaza. In response to a reporter’s question, he said, “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”

  • Trump reiterated that he feels Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and said if they get one, “that will be very unfortunate for them”. But the president said Iran would find it very beneficial if the country could convince him that they won’t develop a nuclear weapon, saying in that case, “they’re going to have an unbelievable future”.

  • Before Trump’s shock proposal to “take over” Gaza, Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri said the President’s idea is a “recipe for creating chaos and tension in the region”.

    “Our people in the Gaza Strip will not allow these plans to pass. What is required is an end to the occupation and aggression against our people, not their expulsion from their land,” he said.

Published By:

Karishma Saurabh Kalita

Published On:

Feb 5, 2025

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