Trump Wants to Buy and Own Gaza… Netanyahu Responds to Criticism by Declaring Victory /  The Resistance in Gaza Suspends the Exchange Over Violations… A Defining Test for the Balance of Power

 February 11, 2025

The political editor wrote

Every time the uproar over his Gaza expulsion plan subsides, U.S. President Donald Trump reloads it with a fresh charge. Despite the outrage expressed by former German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called the plan a scandal, and the disavowal from numerous U.S. officials, Trump presses forward, relentlessly marketing his project. His ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seizes upon Trump’s rhetoric to rally domestic support, speaking in the language of victory. While Netanyahu may be consolidating the political establishment around him, the public and media ridicule his so-called triumph, especially after his speech in the Knesset was repeatedly interrupted, dealing a severe blow to his narrative. Meanwhile, Trump brazenly declared that he intends to “buy and own” Gaza – only to be met with a firm response from its people: their homeland is not for sale.

Trump and Netanyahu, along with their rhetoric of arrogance and dominance, now face a tough reckoning. Hamas has announced that it will suspend the sixth prisoner exchange on Saturday unless Israel fulfills the commitments it has been evading – most notably, allowing the entry of prefabricated homes and heavy equipment to clear the rubble, retrieve the bodies of martyrs and prisoners, and provide shelter for the displaced. This decision has reignited tensions within Netanyahu’s government, with his coalition partners, who initially opposed the deal, now demanding a return to war. Trump’s inflammatory remarks had briefly unified them behind Netanyahu, but Hamas’ move has shattered that cohesion. Now, both Netanyahu and Trump are confronted with the challenge of translating their threats into action – returning to war as a demonstration of strength – while knowing full well the limitations of their options and the necessity of returning to negotiations. The evolving situation is rapidly reshaping the political landscape in ways that contradict Trump’s bluster and Netanyahu’s opportunism.

Shortly after midnight, Trump escalated further, declaring that unless the hostages are returned by Saturday, he would order the cancellation of the ceasefire agreement. This came after Hamas informed mediators that, in light of Trump’s remarks about expulsion, it no longer considers Washington a trustworthy guarantor of the deal.

In Lebanon the newly formed government is holding its first meeting today, beginning with a commemorative photo of its members alongside President Joseph Aoun, Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. The government will then proceed to form a committee to draft its policy statement. Sources suggest that the statement will prioritise securing an Israeli withdrawal, implementing the ceasefire agreement, and enforcing Resolution 1701. It is also expected to reference the Taif Agreement’s sovereignty clause: “Taking all necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territory from Israeli occupation, extend the state’s sovereignty over all its land, and deploy the Lebanese army along the internationally recognised border.”

However, Justice Minister Adel Nassar has claimed that the statement’s top priority will be dismantling the resistance’s arsenal – remarks that sources have dismissed as exaggerated and not reflective of the government’s actual direction. Instead, they reaffirm the administration’s commitment to the presidential inaugural address, which emphasised the state’s exclusive right to bear arms and called for a national defense strategy.

Similarly, Social Affairs Minister Haneen Al-Sayyed’s statement advocating for the “voluntary” return of Syrian refugees has been characterised as a personal opinion influenced by her previous work with organisations involved in refugee assistance and the World Bank.