The US president’s Gaza plan must be discussed with key countries in the Middle East, according to Isaac Herzog
US President Donald Trump will begin talks with Arab leaders regarding his proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to neighboring countries while the enclave is being rebuilt, Israeli President Isaac Herzog told Fox News on Sunday. Trump’s plan has drawn international condemnation.
In the interview, Herzog insisted that the US president is not talking about taking over Gaza militarily and urged neighboring nations to offer alternative solutions.
”President Trump is due to meet with major, major Arab leaders, first and foremost, the king of Jordan and the president of Egypt, and I think also the crown prince of Saudi Arabia as well…They are partners that must be listened to, must be discussed with. We have to know their fields as well and see how we build a plan that is sustainable for the future,” Herzog stated.
Trump’s plan envisions Gaza’s redevelopment into what he calls “the Riviera of the Middle East,” with displaced Palestinians initially relocating to Jordan, Egypt, and other Arab nations before some are resettled in the redeveloped territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the proposal, calling it the “first good idea” he has heard regarding the region’s future.
However, the initiative has been met with strong opposition from key players in the region. Jordan and Egypt have already rejected the plan, warning it could destabilize fragile ceasefire negotiations and ongoing hostage-release talks with Hamas. The Arab League and Hamas have also dismissed the proposal, while multiple global powers, including Germany, France, Brazil, Russia, and China, have condemned the displacement idea.
Countries opposed to the plan argue that forced relocation would violate international law, with human rights advocates labeling the proposal as “ethnic cleansing.” Despite the backlash, Trump is reportedly pushing ahead with diplomatic talks, seeking input from Arab leaders to refine his approach.
Israeli officials are currently in Qatar for indirect negotiations with Hamas regarding a possible extension of the current ceasefire and discussions about post-war governance in Gaza. Following Israel’s withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor, movement between northern and southern Gaza has resumed, increasing pressure to reach a long-term solution.
