Netanyahu: I never agreed to Palestinian statehood as part of Gaza deal

Netanyahu denies that Trump’s Gaza peace deal includes a provision for Palestinian statehood, says he emphasized to the president that Israel would not back statehood.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back on criticism from the Israeli Right, denying that he had agreed to back a pathway to Palestinian statehood.

During his meeting with President Donald Trump on Monday, Netanyahu endorsed the administration’s sweeping Gaza peace plan, beginning with an immediate ceasefire in the coastal enclave followed by the return of Israeli hostages and a gradual IDF withdrawal.

The proposal, which calls for the establishment of an international stabilization force (ISF) to replace the IDF in Gaza and to oversee the disarming of Hamas, also provides for “interfaith dialogue” to “try and change mindsets…of Palestinians and Israelis,” dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians, and a “credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognize as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.”

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key member of the Netanyahu government, castigated the plan, calling its pathway to Palestinian statehood a throwback to the “Oslo concept” of the 1990s.

In a video statement filmed after his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu defended his decision to back the White House’s plan and denied that he had agreed to support Palestinian statehood.

“Absolutely not,” Netanyahu said. “And that isn’t written in the agreement.”

The prime minister added that during his meeting with Trump, he made it clear that Israel would strongly oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling it a reward for the atrocities of October 7.

“But one thing we did say is that we would strongly oppose a Palestinian state. President Trump said that as well, and said that he understands that. He also said at the UN that [Palestinian statehood] would be a tremendous reward for terrorism. And a danger to the State of Israel,” Netanyahu said. “Obviously, we won’t agree to that.”

The 20-point plan – scaled down from 21 points in its initial draft – prohibits Israel from annexing or occupying the Gaza Strip and mandates that the IDF hand over control of areas cleared of terror to the ISF, even if Hamas “delays or rejects” the proposal.

In his video statement, Netanyahu called the Trump deal a victory for Israel.

“This was an excellent visit; including earlier, at the UN, and at the end here in Washington,” he said.

“It was a historic visit. Instead of Hamas isolating us, we have flipped the script and we are isolating Hamas.

“Now the whole world, including the Arab and Muslim world, is pressuring Hamas to accept the terms which we set together with President Trump.”