By working closely with President Trump, I see that we can redraw the map of the Middle East even more and for the better, said Netanyahu to a press gathering in Israel before departing for Washington DC.
US President Trump was involved in the final stages of the negotiations that ultimately led to a ceasefire – but new talks are now underway to prevent the war from flaring up again when the first phase's six weeks have passed in early March.
"Best that they leave"
Trump says he wants to be a peacemaker during his second term. The US is Israel's closest ally and provides the country with significant military support, but when civilian casualties soared, the Biden administration had some reservations.
Some military support was withheld, and Israeli settlers on the West Bank were sanctioned, but these decisions are reported to have been revoked by President Trump.
The US formally advocates for a two-state solution in the Middle East, but Trump has not wanted to confirm this. He has said in recent weeks that it would be best if Palestinians leave the war-torn Gaza Strip and become refugees in Egypt or Jordan.
It can be temporary or long-term, he said last week.
In neighboring countries, there are already hundreds of thousands of Palestinians – many who are still formally refugees through solutions that were said to be temporary many decades ago.
These countries receive significant American support, which can be used as leverage. On the other hand, their governments are likely well aware that participating in new expulsions of Palestinians would spark great anger at home.
Difficult in several respects
During his previous term, Donald Trump negotiated the so-called Abraham Accords, where four Arab states that had previously stood in solidarity with the Palestinians chose to normalize their relations with Israel. The idea was that Saudi Arabia would also do so – but then the Gaza war broke out, and the Sunni Muslim kingdom stood behind the Palestinians.
According to former colleagues and analysts, this is still one of Trump's top foreign policy goals. The President's Middle East envoy, Steven Witkoff, has traveled to Riyadh twice recently, but Saudi Arabia is said to first want to see a plan for a Palestinian state.
First, the question is whether the ceasefire can hold and reach phase two. Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Israel stands and falls with a far-right coalition partner that wants to evacuate Gaza and demands that the war continues.
Phase one:
Will last for six weeks, during which Hamas will release 33 Israeli hostages.
Israel will release over 730 Palestinians from Israeli prisons, as well as over 1,100 who have been detained by the military in Gaza within the framework of the war.
Israel will make some initial military withdrawals from key areas in Gaza.
More aid and supplies will be allowed into the population.
Negotiations on the forms of the next phase will begin.
Phase two (if it happens):
Hamas will release all remaining hostages who are alive.
Israel will release more imprisoned Palestinians.
The Israeli military will begin a full withdrawal.
Phase three (if it happens):
Hamas will hand over the remains of dead hostages.
A three-to-five-year reconstruction of Gaza will begin under international supervision.
Border crossings to the area will be opened.
