Gantz welcomes Trump’s Gaza comments: ‘Creative, original and interesting thinking’

By Sam Sokol 5 February 2025, 9:02 am

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

National Unity leader MK Benny Gantz leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on February 3, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/ Flash90)

Benny Gantz, chairman of the opposition National Unity party, welcomes US President Donald Trump’s comments on the Gaza Strip, stating that they represent “further proof of the deep alliance between the United States and Israel.”

“President Trump has shown, and not for the first time, that he is a true friend of Israel and will continue to stand by it on issues important to strengthening its security,” Gantz says in a statement.

“In his remarks, he presented creative, original and interesting thinking, which must be examined alongside the realization of the goals of the war, giving priority to the return of all the hostages.”

Speaking during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington on Tuesday evening, Trump said that the “US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We’ll own it.” Trump also reinforced his call to resettle the people of Gaza, suggesting they all relocate permanently.