Date: July 8, 2025

WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump reignited controversy this week with renewed discussions about relocating Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries. The dialogue took place during Netanyahu’s White House visit on Monday evening, coinciding with indirect ceasefire negotiations in Doha aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long Gaza conflict.

During a joint appearance in Washington, Netanyahu emphasized that Palestinians in Gaza should have the “free choice” to stay or relocate. “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,” he explained
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. He further stated that Israel and the United States are coordinating with other countries to offer Palestinians a “better future,” adding that discussions with potential host nations are “getting close”
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President Trump echoed Netanyahu’s remarks, saying regional partners are expressing strong cooperation. “We’ve had great cooperation from … surrounding countries. … So something good will happen,” he told reporters
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Netanyahu and Trump’s meeting follows previous proposals floated earlier this year, including rerouting Palestinians to Egypt, Jordan, or other safe havens during a U.S.-led reconstruction. Trump had previously suggested turning Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” while Netanyahu noted the project would only proceed if Gazans were willing
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These proposals have sparked widespread criticism. Palestinian residents have firmly rejected forced displacement. “This is our land. Who would we leave it to …? We will not abandon our homeland,” declared Gazan Mansour Abu Al-Khaier
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. Human rights groups, as well as Egypt and Jordan, have condemned the plan as ethnic cleansing, warning it would violate international law
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Reactions from the international community have been swift. Egypt and Jordan have already rejected resettlement offers . Legal experts caution that any enforced relocation would contravene protections afforded under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Moreover, senior Israeli officials including Defence Minister Israel Katz have reportedly instructed the military to prepare for the creation of a “humanitarian city” on the ruins of Rafah, prompting strong backlash from legal scholars, who describe it as a blueprint for crimes against humanity
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Despite the backlash, the discussions took place amid broader efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire. In Doha, indirect negotiations mediated by the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt aim to establish a 60-day truce that includes phased hostage exchanges, partial Israeli troop withdrawals, and aid access
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. Netanyahu’s Washington visit was seen as part of a concerted diplomatic push to support these efforts—though the relocation plan risks undercutting trust and fueling resistance
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With Israel facing mounting international pressure to agree to a ceasefire and release hostages, Netanyahu finds himself balancing Trump’s initiative against fierce domestic opposition. Members of his far-right coalition have threatened to leave the government if any deal is seen as abandoning Gaza territory
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As negotiations proceed in both Doha and Washington, the forced transfer proposal threatens to overshadow humanitarian talks—and risk deepening opposition not just among Palestinians but within Israel’s own political spectrum and the broader international community.