JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned on Monday (Feb 17) he was “dedicated” to a US proposal to take over Gaza and displace its Palestinian residents, as Washington’s high diplomat was in Saudi Arabia to push the plan opposed by Arab states.
As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio started a go to to Saudi Arabia, a Saudi supply instructed AFP, that Riyadh would host a regional summit later this week “to debate Arab options” to President Donald Trump’s broadly criticised plan for the Gaza Strip.
Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait might be represented on the Friday summit, the supply mentioned.
Rubio travelled to Riyadh from Israel, the place he kicked off his first Center East journey as Trump’s secretary of state.
Following his assembly with Netanyahu on Sunday, Rubio mentioned Hamas “should be eradicated”, whereas the Israeli premier touted a “frequent technique” between the 2 allies.
In an announcement Monday, Netanyahu mentioned he was “dedicated to US President Trump’s plan for the creation of a distinct Gaza”, additionally promising that after the battle, “there might be neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority” ruling the territory.
The USA, Israel’s high ally and weapons provider, says it’s open to various proposals from Arab governments, however Rubio has mentioned for now, “the one plan is the Trump plan”.
The USA has been pushing for a historic deal during which Saudi Arabia would recognise Israel, for which Riyadh has demanded the institution of a Palestinian state – lengthy opposed by Israeli leaders and doubtlessly in contradiction with Trump’s Gaza plan.
Because it got here into impact almost a month in the past, Israel and Hamas have accused one another of violating the Gaza truce, which has been additional strained by Trump’s proposal to take management of rubble-strewn Gaza and transfer its greater than two million residents.
Negotiations on a second part of the truce, aimed toward securing a extra lasting finish to the battle, may start this week in Doha, a Hamas official and one other supply acquainted with the talks have mentioned.
Netanyahu’s workplace mentioned he would convene a gathering of his safety cupboard on Monday to debate part two.
It mentioned negotiators dispatched to Cairo would “obtain additional directives for negotiations on Section II” after the cupboard assembly.
