Expectations were high ahead of the meeting between the American president and the Israeli prime minister. When the two then took their seats for a joint press conference on Monday Swedish time, it did not take long before Trump announced that Netanyahu had agreed to the US proposal.
We have had good cooperation, just as we have had with other countries, said Trump.
Among the 20 points included in the plan are, among other things, a disarmament of Hamas and the destruction of the terrorist-stamped movement's tunnel system in Gaza, the release of all hostages and a ceasefire. Regarding the Israeli withdrawal, this is to take place gradually and the administration of the strip is to be managed by a "peace council", which is to be led by Trump and where the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is proposed to have a role.
Hamas: Has not seen the proposal
Trump listed a number of countries in the region that have helped in the negotiations, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan.
Hamas has not provided any response.
President Trump said he "believes" that the response from there will be positive.
But if not, then Bibi (Netanyahu), as you know, has our full support to do what he must do.
Trump's tone was relatively upbeat and he managed during his speech to talk in a joking tone about how one can pronounce the name Abraham in different ways depending on one's mother tongue.
Different tone
When it was Benjamin Netanyahu's turn to speak, the tone was partly different. The Prime Minister confirmed that the two agree, but continued to speak in terms of winning the war.
I support your plan to end the war in Gaza that meets our war goals, he said.
In addition to a complete disarmament of Hamas, Netanyahu also placed great emphasis on not allowing the Palestinian Authority in its current form to have any role in the administration that will take over in Gaza. Regarding Israel's withdrawal, he emphasized that Israel should be allowed to retain a "security zone" among the Palestinians "for the distant future".
Netanyahu also said that there is a simple and a difficult way to implement the plan. If Hamas does not agree to the demands, the other alternative awaits, according to the Israeli leader.
We did not fight in this terrible war, did not sacrifice our best young men, just to see Hamas remain in Gaza.
