Netanyahu reaches agreement with Trump on Gaza's future and threatens to "finish the job" if Hamas doesn't accept it.

WashingtonThe last time Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared together from the White House was to announce plans to turn the Strip into a sort of resortThis Monday, both leaders did so again, announcing a plan to end the war in Gaza, without Hamas's explicit approval. Trump thanked Netanyahu for "agreeing to the plan" and allowing for an "end to the death and destruction" the region has suffered. He also spoke of Hamas's position as conditional, putting the pressure on the Islamist group: "If Hamas accepts, this proposal calls for the immediate release of all hostages, and no later than 72 hours."

If the peace agreement proposal is not accepted, Trump has said that Israel will have "full support" in putting an end to Hamas. The US president has used the same formula as Netanyahu. used at the UN General Assembly when he said that he had to "finish the job in Gaza." "Israel will have my full support in finishing the job of destroying Hamas," the Republican said, leaving little choice: "If Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible, they will be the only ones left [...] But if not, as Bibi [Netanyahu] knows, you would have detrimental support to do what you should do."

Trump also announced, as previously leaked, that there will be a transitional government and confirmed that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be part of the board that will lead it. Now, in a surprising twist, Trump also said that he will lead this provisional governing body: "The leaders of the Arab world and of Israel, and everyone involved, asked me to do this so that it would be headed by a gentleman known as President Donald J. Trump of the United States."

In his turn, Netanyahu presented the agreed-upon agreement as "a crucial step both toward ending the war in Gaza and establishing peace" in the region. "Now, under your leadership, we are taking the next step to win the war and expand the peace." The Israeli prime minister assured that the plan "is consistent with the five principles" that his coalition government has established to end the war and the day after. "Gaza will be demilitarized," he said, "Israel will retain security responsibility, including a security perimeter for the foreseeable future. And finally, Gaza will have a peaceful civil administration that will not be in the hands of either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority." That the Palestinian Authority will govern Gaza after the war is one of Tel Aviv's red lines.

Shortly before the joint appearance, the White House sent a statement outlining the US president's plan to end the conflict. The proposal consists of 20 points and specifies in the third point that "if both parties agree to this proposal, the war will end immediately." This immediate cessation of hostilities will entail that "Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed line to prepare for the release of the hostages" and during that time "all military operations [...] will be suspended" and the combat lines will be "frozen until the conditions for a complete phased withdrawal are met."

On the map attached to the plan, the Israeli army's withdrawal line is located at the height of Rafah. The document states that "within 72 hours" of Israel accepting the agreement, "all hostages, living or dead," will be released.

After the Bad taste in the mouth at the UN General AssemblyIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the White House on Monday to receive a warmer welcome from his partner, President Donald Trump. The Israeli's fourth visit to Washington comes just seven months after that first meeting, in which the American announced plans to turn Gaza into a tourist resort. In that time, Israel's international isolation has increased, as has the genocide in the Strip, where Tel Aviv has already killed more than 66,000 PalestiniansNetanyahu has met again with Trump amid rumors of a possible agreement to end a war that is about to turn two years old.

During the meeting with Netanyahu, Trump also arranged a call with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani. During the three-way conversation, Netanyahu expressed his regret to Al Thani for the attack on Qatar in early September aimed at eliminating Hamas members. The Qatari prime minister accepted the apology. The length of the meeting was not specified, but the "proposal to end the Gaza war" was also discussed.

The possibility of an end to hostilities looms in the air, although at the UN Netanyahu made it explicit that he must "finish the job." in Gaza and does not intend to accept the existence of a Palestinian state. He spoke these words before a practically empty Assembly, where his delegation tried to fill with applause the seats that the rest of the countries had left empty as a symbol of protest. The Israeli's words contrasted with those of Trump, who shortly before had assured that "there could be an agreement" and that "there will be peace." Even the Republican said on Thursday that he would not allow Israel to annex the West Bank, although Tel Aviv has different plans: "I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It's time for this to end."

Since that moment of visible disagreement, the diplomatic machinery has continued working over the weekend to try to bring Netanyahu closer to the president's 21-point plan to end the conflict, establish a post-war governing mechanism, and return the 48 Israeli hostages home. Special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, met with the Israeli prime minister on Sunday at the hotel where he is staying in Washington. The meeting, which lasted about two hours, according to Times of Israel, Witkoff wanted to get Netanyahu to support Trump's plan, despite the Israeli prime minister's reluctance regarding the role of the Palestinian Authority and the disarmament of Hamas.

According to the Israeli media outlet, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, also participated in the meeting. Kushner owns a real estate company and has repeatedly commented on the business opportunity he sees in the Strip once the war is over. In a conversation in March, he emphasized the "valuable" nature of Gaza's waterfront land.

Several Israeli media outlets report that Sunday's meeting went well and that Netanyahu would be inclined to close the deal, although he may still introduce changes. This is distressing to the United States, which wants to maintain the support of Arab countries in post-war Palestine. While for the Arabs, recognition of the Palestinian state is essential, for Israel it is a red line. The other is the role the Palestinian Authority will play in Gaza after the war.

The role of Hamas

In his televised address to the UN, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas stated that the Palestinian Authority is "ready to take over" governance of Gaza and promised that Hamas will have no role in the government. Abbas called on the Islamist group to hand over its weapons and said that they do not want "an armed state." Despite Abbas's words, Trump's plan would include a transitional government before the Palestinian Authority regained control. Last week, US and British media revealed that the White House is considering former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to take over the transitional government. The Labour Party would lead an interim international administration in the Palestinian territory, with the support of the UN and the Gulf states, before returning the Strip to Palestinian control.

The plan would also presumably have been discussed with Arab leaders within the framework of the UN. On Tuesday, Trump met with the leaders of eight Arab and Muslim countries and, according to reports, Political, reportedly presented his plan to end the war. Representatives from Qatar, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan, Indonesia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia were present at the meeting.

The talks, however, have not reached Hamas. The Islamist group said on Sunday that it had not received "any official proposal through Egyptian and Qatari mediators." It also stressed that ending the war is "an essential requirement," as is the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza.

Although the United States wants to maintain the support of Arab countries, especially Doha as a mediator with Hamas, Israel is reportedly pushing to limit Qatar's role in post-war Gaza, amid the deterioration of ties between the two countries. In early September, in an unprecedented gesture, Tel Aviv attacked the Arab country under the pretext of eliminating the Hamas leaders who were in power at the time.