Israel, US close to finding countries to take in Gazans, says Netanyahu

Senior Israeli official says President Trump’s plan to relocate Gaza’s entire population is “alive,” as the president hints “something good will happen.”

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israel and the United States are working together closely to promote President Donald Trump’s Gaza migration plan, and to find third-party countries willing to take in large numbers of Gazans, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday.

Speaking at the beginning of a dinner meeting with Trump and other senior administration officials at the White House, Netanyahu told reporters that the U.S. and Israel are “getting close” to finding nations willing to taken Gaza refugees.

“We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realize what they have always said, to give the Palestinians a better future. I think that we are getting close to finding several countries.”

President Trump echoed Netanyahu’s optimism, hinting at major developments regarding his Gaza plan.

“Something good will happen,” the president said.

Netanyahu also reiterated his support for President Trump’s Gaza migration plan, first unveiled during Netanyahu’s visit to Washington in February, under which Gazans would be encouraged to migrate abroad en masse, with the coastal enclave becoming an American-run free trade zone.

“I think President Trump has a brilliant vision, it’s called free choice,” Netanyahu continued.

“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.”

After the dinner, a senior Israeli official told reporters that the Gaza resettlement plan is “alive.”

“After tonight, I am [convinced],” the official said, according to The Times of Israel.

“The plan is alive, What is needed is operational coordination, not only the aims, but how we achieve it. And that is what we discussed. The desire is there.”