Netanyahu: Implementation of Trump’s Gaza relocation plan is condition for ending war

The fledgling Operation Gideon’s Chariots — the expanded operation in Gaza — is meant to “complete the war, the work” in Gaza, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Our forces are landing powerful blows that will get stronger against Hamas strongholds that still exist in Gaza,” he explains.

Netanyahu says that the houses of residents in towns near the Gaza border are shaking not because of Hamas missiles, but because of Israel’s firepower. “Our forces are taking more and more ground in order to clean them of terrorists and from Hamas terror infrastructure,” he says.

At the end of the operation, promises Netanyahu, “all the territory of Gaza will be under Israeli security control, and Hamas will be totally defeated.”

He says that to maintain support from Israel’s allies, Jerusalem must prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza — attempting to explain his decision to renew entry of humanitarian aid into the Strip, which is deeply unpopular in right-wing circles.

He says that Israel’s closest friends, including in the Senate, tell him that they’ll help Israel in any way so that it can destroy Hamas, but the one thing they won’t accept is a humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Netanyahu stresses that Hamas loots aid shipments and sells the supplies at exorbitant prices to fund its military activities.

He says that Israel developed along with the US a humanitarian aid plan to keep it out of Hamas’s hands. US Ambassador Mike Huckabee earlier this month claimed it was an American plan, not an Israeli plan.

Netanyahu says the plan has three stages – the entry of “basic food now” into Gaza to prevent a humanitarian crisis; opening aid distribution points in the coming days by US companies; and creating a “sterile zone” in southern Gaza for the civilian population to shelter in.

“In this zone, which will be totally free of Hamas, residents of Gaza will receive full humanitarian aid,” he explains.

Responding to those who are pushing for an end to war in Gaza, Netanyahu says he “is ready to end the war, under clear conditions that will ensure the safety of Israel – all the hostages come home, Hamas lays down its arms, steps down from power, its leadership is exiled from the Strip… Gaza is totally disarmed, and we carry out the Trump plan. A plan that is so correct and so revolutionary.”

This represents the first time the US president’s plan for moving Gaza civilians out of the Strip has been presented as an Israeli demand for ending the war.

Netanyahu claims that those who call for an end to the war before those demands are met are calling for Hamas to remain in power. That would, he argues, result in Hamas rebuilding, making more missiles, digging more tunnels, and carrying out more atrocities including murder, rape and baby burning.