Netanyahu hails Trump’s ‘revolutionary, creative’ Gaza plan, German Chancellor calls it ‘scandal’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Gaza, terming it as “revolutionary” as he made the statement to his cabinet following his return to Israel from Washington.

"President Trump came with a completely different, much better vision for Israel a revolutionary, creative approach that we are currently discussing" the Israeli prime minister said.

Netanyahu reiterated the proposal upon his return from the US and said he is keen to implement it.

"He is very determined to implement it, and I believe it opens up many, many possibilities for us," he added.

Israel's defense minister also ordered the army to prepare for "voluntary" departures from Gaza.

Last week, Trump sparked a diplomatic backlash after he proposed to move the Gazans out of the territory to other countries in the region, while the United States would take charge of redeveloping it.

“US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site, and get rid of the destroyed buildings, level it out, create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area, do a real job, do something different,” Trump on Feb 4 said.

Trump had said that Washington should take over the Gaza Strip and move out its inhabitants to turn it into "the Riviera of the Middle East.”

Reacting to Trump’s plans, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, termed it as a “scandal.” Scholz, who was speaking in a pre-election TV debate, said "the relocation of a population is unacceptable and against international law".

His conservative election rival Friedrich Merz also showed his agreement and said "I share this assessment".

However, Merz added that Trump's announcement is "part of a whole series of proposals coming from the American government".

"We have to wait and see what is really meant seriously and how it will be implemented. There is probably a lot of rhetoric involved,” he said.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu on Feb 8 ordered negotiators to return to Qatar, which helped mediate the ceasefire, "to discuss technical details of the agreement", his office said.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hamas on Feb 9 completed their fifth hostage-prisoner exchange, with three Israeli hostages and 183 Palestinian prisoners released.

The Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023, after the Palestinian fighting group attacked Israel resulting in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

The Group tool took 251 hostages, of whom 73 remain in Gaza, including 34 which the Israeli military says are dead.

In retaliation to the attack, Israel launched a devastating offense that ravaged Gaza, killing at least 48,181 people including women and children in the territory, according to figures provided by the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

In a latest television interview, Netanyahu also sparked fury when he said that a Palestinian state which he has long opposed could be "in Saudi Arabia".

The Saudi foreign ministry has expressed its "categorical rejection to such statements", while Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said such ideas "are nothing more than mere fantasies or illusions".

On Feb 27, Egypt will host an Arab summit to discuss "the latest serious developments" concerning the Palestinian territories, its foreign ministry said.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Jordan's King Abdullah II are due to meet Trump at the White House on Feb 11.