Netanyahu speaks on Trump’s 21-point peace plan, prioritizes hostage release, dismantling Hamas
The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu has said that talks between Israel and the United States are ongoing with regard to President Donald Trump’s proposed 21-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza.
He said this during an interview on Fox News on Sunday, stating that the proposal remains in progress as his team works with U.S. officials to secure the release of hostages and dismantle Hamas.
Reports say that the proposed peace plan include the possibility of ending the war immediately with a hostage-prisoner exchange and a US-backed Palestinian Authority temporarily put in charge of Gaza.
The proposed plan also includes Israel halting future strikes in Qatar and Hamas leaders escorted out of Gaza while those who choose to remain might be offered amnesty.
“I hope we can make it a go because we want to free our hostages. We want to get rid of Hamas rule and have them disarmed, Gaza demilitarized, and a new future set up for Gazans and Israelis alike and for the whole region,” Netanyahu said during the interview.
“In previous statements, I said that if Hamas leaders, for example, are escorted out of the country, yeah… if they finish the war, release all the hostages, we let them out. That is something that I’ve said in the past, but it has to be worked out.
“All of that, I think, is part of the plan. I’m not going to preempt it, because we’re having these discussions exactly right now,” he added.
Netanyahu had stated during his recent address to the United Nations that he will not accept a governing role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, comparing the idea to “giving al Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11.”
When asked if that remains a red line, Netanyahu was pessimistic on the prospect of a meaningful reform in the Palestinian Authority. “If all of that is turned on its head, there’s a tremendous transformation… Good luck. Some people will believe it happens. I don’t think it’s going to happen,” he said.
He further praised his relationship with the US President while expressing optimism on the Abraham Accords as a viable tool for regional stability. “I think there are many possibilities for peace, which I’m discussing with President Trump and his team,” he said.
“I think you’ll see that not only are the Abraham Accords not endangered, they’ll be expanded to other countries,” Netanyahu added.
