All Israel News February 7, 2025
Did Netanyahu know? How Trump’s stunning Gaza takeover plan came about

Israel apparently knew something was coming but 'US ownership' came as surprise

This week, U.S. President Donald Trump did what he does best, smashing decade-old paradigms of Middle East policy with a new idea whose details remain shrouded with questions: The U.S. will take over Gaza, while its inhabitants will move somewhere else, possibly to return after reconstruction.

The states in the region were so shocked that only Saudi Arabia could muster an immediate response, while the rest later followed its lead.

However, one of the most interesting questions raised by Trump’s surprise move is who knew about it before, and particularly: Was the Israeli government surprised by it?

Several indications point to the fact that Israel knew the general gist of the idea, particularly the goal of relocating at least large portions of the Gazan population but was surprised by the scope of what the president proposed, especially U.S. “ownership” of the area.

Several commentators pointed out that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked surprised when Trump declared the U.S. would take “long-term ownership” of the enclave.

When asked about the plan during the joint press conference, the prime minister could only offer general, vague comments, indicating he was, indeed, caught by surprise.

He lauded Trump’s “willingness to puncture conventional thinking,” noted how Trump had taken his own goals “to a much higher level,” and emphasized “it's worthwhile really pursuing this avenue.”