Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House on Monday ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump.
Following their bilateral meeting and lunch, the two leaders addressed the press.
Trump opened the press conference by calling the day "one of the greatest days ever in civilization." He thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for "getting in there and getting a job. We really work well together."
He noted that he and the Prime Minister discussed Iran, trade, the expansion of the Abraham Accords, and "most importantly, we discussed how to end the war in Gaza," which, according to him, is just a part of "eternal peace in the Middle East."
The President announced that following extensive consultation with Middle Eastern states, he is formally releasing the "Principles for Peace." He noted that the plan was formulated while working with the nations involved.
Trump thanked Prime Minister Netanyahu for agreeing to the plan and "for trusting that if we work together, we can bring an end to the death and destruction that we've seen for so many years, decades, even centuries, and begin a new chapter of security, peace, and prosperity for the entire region."
He also praised the Arab leaders for agreeing with the plan and contributing to it, and revealed that the Prime Minister and Field Marshal of Pakistan openly backed the plan.
Delving into the plan, he stated that it stipulates that Hamas must return the hostages immediately, but in no case more than 72 hours.
According to Trump, the plan would end the war with Arab and Muslim countries, committing to demilitarize Gaza quickly and decommission the military capabilities of Hamas and other terror organizations.
"I'm hearing Hamas wants to get this done too; that's a good thing," the President added.
The plan will see all parties agreeing on a timeline for Israeli forces to withdraw in phases.
Trump implied that the Arab countries already have an agreement with Hamas for it to agree to the plan, but warned that if Hamas does not accept it, "Israel will have the absolute right and our full backing to do what they have to do."
The President stated that at the request of other countries, he will lead the "Board of Peace" that will oversee peace efforts. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair will also be on the board. “The leaders of the Arab world and Israel and everybody involved asked me to do this,” he explained.
He noted that in the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu was "very clear about his opposition to a Palestinian state and he mentioned October 7th, and I understand that. I understand and respect his position on many things, but what he's doing today is so good for Israel."
Trump also mentioned the anti-war protesters in Israel who often hold signs with his name, quipping: "They like me, for whatever reason, Bibi, I don't know."
He complimented the Prime Minister, calling him "a warrior" and saying that "Israel is lucky to have him."
The President also criticized the countries that "foolishly" recognized a Palestinian state, but explained that they did so because "they're tired of what's been going on for so many decades. The Presidents and Prime Ministers, when they deal with the Middle East, talk about the same thing over and over."
Reviewing the history leading up to the war, he recounted: "The Palestinians elected Hamas. Israel withdrew from Gaza, thinking they would live in peace, remember that? But that didn't work out; there was the opposite of peace. I never forgot that, because I said, 'That doesn't sound like a good deal to me, as a real estate person, they gave up the ocean.' They gave up the most magnificent piece of land in the Middle East and said all we want to do now is have peace, and that request was not honored."
"Instead of a better life for the Palestinians, Hamas diverted resources to build over 400 miles of tunnels and terror infrastructure, rocket production facilities, and hid military command posts and launch sites in hospitals, schools, and mosques, so if you went after them, you'd end up knocking out a hospital, school, or a mosque.
"I challenge the Palestinians to take responsibility for their destiny."
Trump warned that if the Palestinian Authority does not complete the reforms he laid out in 2020, "They'll have only themselves to blame. We're giving them an amazing footprint, and they have amazing support from the leaders of the Arab world."
He claimed that Israel gained respect in the Middle East by the way it fought the war.
The President also referred to the phone call between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani during which, according to him, the two had a "heart-to-heart conversation."
Prime Minister Netanyahu responded by thanking the President for his hospitality and for his friendship and leadership, "From Jerusalem to Tehran, from the Golan Heights to Gaza, you have proven time and again, what I've said many times: you are the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House."
Netanyahu declared that "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims. It will bring back to Israel all our hostages, dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and its political rule, and ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel."
"We would not have achieved this turning point without the courage and sacrifice of our incredibly brave soldiers. They fight like lions to defend the people of Israel, and they serve on the front line of the war between civilization and barbarism," he added.
Citing the American and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear weapons program in June, Netanyahu proclaimed that when the US and Israel "stand together, we achieve the impossible."
Regarding Hamas accepting the plan, he warned: "If Hamas rejects your plan, or if they supposedly accept it and then do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself," adding that Israel did not fight this "horrible" war so that Hamas would stay in power in Gaza and "threaten us again and again and again with these horrific massacres."
The Prime Minister thanked the President for standing strong in the UN against the recognition of a Palestinian state, which "would be an outcome that, after October 7th, would reward terror, undermine security, and endanger Israel's very existence."
Netanyahu further praised the Trump Administration's plan for Gaza as "realistic" instead of insisting that an unreformed Palestinian Authority govern the enclave.
“I appreciate your firm position that the PA could have no role whatsoever in Gaza without undergoing a radical and genuine transformation,” Netanyahu said. “It won’t come as a surprise to you that the vast majority of Israelis have no faith that the PA leopard will change its spots. But rather than wait for this miraculous transformation, your plan provides a practical and realistic path forward for Gaza in the coming years, in which Gaza will be administered - neither by Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority - but by those committed to a genuine peace with Israel.”
As he welcomed Netanyahu to the White House, Trump was asked if he was confident that the deal would go through, to which he answered in the affirmative.
At the same time, a senior Qatari delegation arrived at the White House to discuss and advance a hostage deal that could bring an end to the war. Axios reporter Barak Ravid reported that Netanyahu even spoke to the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, and apologized for the strike on Hamas officials in Doha.
Just minutes before Netanyahu’s arrival, President Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar as part of efforts to push the framework forward.
According to Axios, the “21-point plan” includes the release of all remaining hostages, a permanent ceasefire, a gradual Israeli withdrawal from all of Gaza, and a post-war governing mechanism for the Strip without Hamas, secured by a force comprising Palestinians alongside soldiers from Arab and Muslim countries.
Arab and Muslim states would fund Gaza’s new administration and reconstruction, with some involvement of the Palestinian Authority.
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