Netanyahu says several countries close to agreeing to take in Gazans; Trump: ‘Something good will happen’

WASHINGTON — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel and the US are “getting close to finding several countries” who will take in Palestinians who would like to leave the war-torn Gaza Strip.

Fielding questions from reporters before their White House dinner, US President Donald Trump is asked whether his plan to take over Gaza and relocate the Strip’s population is still on the table.

Trump asks Netanyahu to answer the question.

“I think President Trump had a brilliant vision. It’s called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay; but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu responds. Gaza “shouldn’t be a prison. It should be an open place.”

The Israeli government has jumped on Trump’s Gaza takeover plan, framing it as an opportunity to “encourage the voluntary migration” of Palestinians from the Strip.

Critics have blasted the Israeli rhetoric as a euphemism for the forced expulsion of Palestinians and the ethnic cleansing of the Strip, given that the effort is being pushed in the middle of a devastating war that has seen much of Gaza flattened.

“We’re working with the United States very closely [to] find countries that will… give the Palestinians a better future,” Netanyahu says.

Chiming in, Trump says he has had “great cooperation” from “surrounding countries” on the matter.

“Something good will happen,” he adds.

While some neighboring countries have taken in Palestinians for medical treatment, no country has publicly agreed to cooperate with the Trump initiative, not wanting to interfere in what is seen as a land conflict between Israel and the Palestinians — particularly as some of Netanyahu’s coalition partners have been pushing building settlements in Gaza areas cleared of Palestinians.