Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning at the UN General Assembly on Friday, stating that Palestinian statehood for Israel would be tantamount to “national suicide.” However, with numerous initiatives underway regarding Gaza, is it still possible to reach an agreement, as President Trump has claimed?
The Gaza agreement process appears to be at a critical juncture. On the one hand, Trump’s US-proposed Gaza ceasefire plan to Arab states this week, and on the other, France and Saudi Arabia’s proposed post-ceasefire roadmap for Gaza. A French diplomatic source stated, “Everything is moving in parallel.”
The only thing left is to convince Netanyahu. On September 26th, the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech at the UN undoubtedly dampened expectations. Netanyahu criticized the West for capitulating to Hamas and denied that Israel was committing “genocide” in Gaza.
Following Netanyahu’s aggressive remarks, Trump again told the media at the White House on Friday, “I think we will reach a deal on Gaza, a deal that releases all the hostages and ends the war.” Israel’s Haaretz newspaper cited sources as saying that Hamas has accepted in principle the Trump plan, which calls for the release of all Israeli hostages, the release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip. The Trump plan also includes an end to Hamas’s rule over Gaza and a non-annexation of Gaza by Israel or the expulsion of Palestinians from the territory.
However, following the Haaretz report, Hamas claimed on Saturday that it had not received any information from US President Trump regarding the Gaza ceasefire plan.
News excerpt from Radio France Internationale
