Is Israeli PM Netanyahu Committed to Full Control of Gaza Amidst Tensions with Trump?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Netanyahu's commitment to Gaza reoccupation is unyielding.
- The Israeli government has rejected Hamas's terms for a hostage exchange.
- The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening due to the ongoing blockade.
- Netanyahu denies any rift with the US administration despite media speculation.
- The situation remains a focal point in Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Jerusalem, May 22 (NationPress) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his administration's commitment to completely reoccupy the beleaguered Gaza Strip, dismissed any potential agreements to conclude the conflict, and rejected notions of a discord with US President Donald Trump.
"There are indeed 20 hostages still alive in Gaza, with up to 38 others presumed dead," he stated during a press briefing at his office in West Jerusalem.
The Palestinian organization Hamas has consistently indicated its willingness to release Israeli captives in a singular exchange for a cessation of hostilities, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the liberation of Palestinian detainees.
Netanyahu has turned down those proposals, insisting instead on the disarmament of Palestinian resistance groups and the total reoccupation of Gaza.
He outlined his stipulations for concluding the conflict: the return of all Israeli hostages, the ousting of the Hamas leadership from Gaza, and the complete disarmament of the organization.
Netanyahu asserted that once these objectives are met, Israel would proceed to implement the so-called Trump Plan—widely seen as a blueprint for relocating Palestinians from Gaza.
Furthermore, he dismissed any speculation regarding a fracture with the US administration following Trump's recent visit to the Gulf, which notably did not include Israel.
Trump's tour to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates secured numerous lucrative business agreements but also sparked extensive media commentary highlighting Israel's exclusion, despite its status as Washington's closest ally in the region.
This visit followed Trump's choice to halt the US bombing campaign against the Houthis in Yemen.
Netanyahu, who had previously refrained from commenting on the matter, conveyed to reporters that Trump assured him: "Bibi, I want you to know, I am completely committed to you and to the state of Israel."
With escalating international scrutiny on Israel, Trump has advocated for a swift resolution to the conflict in Gaza, expressing concern for the civilians enduring hardship in the besieged territory, where an 11-week Israeli aid blockade has precipitated a severe humanitarian crisis.
In a recent discussion, Netanyahu mentioned that US Vice President J.D. Vance advised him: "Do not heed all these misleading stories about a rift between us."