Trump-Netanyahu meeting revives bitterly opposed plan to relocate Palestinians

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump discussed at the White House controversial plans to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza.

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kept alive the idea of relocating people from the shattered Gaza Strip on Monday, despite widespread condemnation from close allies, the United Nations and rights groups, as well as the Palestinians themselves.

Trump said during their White House meeting Monday that there was “great cooperation” from countries surrounding Israel to take in Palestinians, while Netanyahu said they were “getting close to finding several countries” willing to do so.

Neither provided details of this idea, which Arab nations such as Jordan and Egypt have previously rejected and condemned as forced displacement, which is illegal under international law.

Trump made the surprise announcement in February that he planned for the United States to take ownership of the Gaza Strip and develop it into “the Riviera of the Middle East,” before later walking back those plans citing a lack of regional support. Asked about his progress on this front Monday, he threw the question to Netanyahu sitting across from him.

“It’s called free choice. You know, if people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said. “It shouldn’t be a prison. It should be an open place, and give people a free choice.”