WATCH: If Hamas rejects Trump’s peace plan, ‘Israel will finish the job,’ Netanyahu says

Netanyahu said the president’s plan was “consistent with the five principles my government set for the end of the war and the day after Hamas,” which include the return of all living and deceased Israeli hostages, disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, Israel maintaining security in Gaza “for the foreseeable future” and what he sees as the future of Gaza’s governance, saying, “Gaza will have a peaceful civilian administration that is run neither by Hamas nor by the Palestinian Authority.”

The written plan released by the White House says a Trump-led “Board of Peace” will “set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority” reforms itself and can secure Gaza on its own.

“If Hamas agrees to your plan, Mr. President, the first step will be a modest withdrawal, followed by the release of all our hostages within 72 hours,” Netanyahu said, with Trump standing next to him. “The next step will be the establishment of an international body charged with fully disarming Hamas and demilitarizing Gaza.”

While the written plan released by the White House states that “Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza,” Netanyahu said the further withdrawal of Israeli troops will be “linked to the extent of disarmament and demilitarization,” Yet, he said that his country’s soldiers “will remain in the security perimeter for the foreseeable future.”

“I think we should understand that we’re giving everybody a chance to have this done peacefully, something that will achieve all our war objectives without any further bloodshed,” Netanyahu said.

Israel’s prime minister also warned, “If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done. We prefer the easy way, but it has to be done.”Watch PBS News for daily, breaking and live news, plus special coverage. We are home to PBS News Hour, ranked the most credible and objective TV news show.

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