Netanyahu ties Gaza war end to Trump relocation plan
4 Min Read
Netanyahu demands that Trump’s Gaza relocation plan be implemented before an end to the war, drawing backlash.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, and Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shake hands during a news conference in Al-Aqsa, Occupied Palestine, February 16, 2025 (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
In a rare press conference on Wednesday, Israeli Occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu named the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza relocation plan as a new condition for ending the war on Gaza, the first time he has made such a demand publicly.
Calling the proposal “brilliant” and “revolutionary,” Netanyahu, who has an arrest warrant issued against him by the ICC, said it could “change the face of the Middle East.”
Speaking at his office in occupied al-Quds, Netanyahu said the IOF's latest operation in the Gaza Strip, Operation Gideon’s Chariots, aims to complete the war and bring Gaza under full Israeli security control. He reiterated the war’s alleged objectives as “defeating Hamas, returning the hostages, and ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.”
Since the March 2 aid blockade, "Israel" has brought Gaza into a state of famine, with human rights groups around the world condemning the occupation for using aid as a weapon of war.
Netanyahu stated he was open to ending the war, but only under “clear conditions”: the return of all captives, the disarmament of Palestinian Resistance group Hamas, the exile of its leadership, and the full implementation of the illegal Trump relocation plan. He emphasized that this would be the only path to securing long-term Israeli safety.
He also left open the possibility of a temporary ceasefire if it results in the return of more captives, but stressed that such a pause would be short-term. “We will reach a decisive outcome and a different future for Gaza,” he promised, without offering a concrete timeline.
Accusations fly over Qatar, Trump ties, and military control
Netanyahu also used the occasion to address the Qatargate scandal, denying any knowledge of aides receiving funds from Doha and branding Qatar a “terror-supporting state.”
He insisted Qatar’s involvement was limited to facilitating the captive-prisoner talks. He further claimed that funds transferred to Hamas from Qatar were done on the recommendation of Israeli intelligence, despite past opposition from security officials.
The Israeli Prime Minister also defended his close ties with the Trump administration, dismissing reports of tension. He quoted both US President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance as reaffirming their “absolute commitment” to "Israel" and its war aims.
Netanyahu also dismissed mounting European pressure, including sanctions and aid restrictions, declaring that "Israel" “will do what is necessary to complete the war” regardless of foreign objections.
Golan, Lapid, and Gaza border residents fire back
Yair Golan, head of the Israeli Democrats party, called Netanyahu’s leadership “lying and anxious,” and said he would sue for defamation after Netanyahu accused him of defaming Israeli occupation soldiers.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that Netanyahu’s vision would mean years of military siege over Gaza, more Israeli deaths, and increased economic burden on the occupation state.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu rejected the idea of European countries unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state “After October 7, after we saw what a de facto Palestinian state looks like, it was called Gaza. Hamastan.”
He ended the press conference by reiterating that any captives deal must include US guarantees to block future UN sanctions against "Israel". “This is Hamas’s goal,” he said. “To stop the war and then push for a binding Security Council resolution that would crash our economy. It’s insane.”
