Netanyahu Urges Neighboring Nations to Join Israel in Expelling Hamas

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on neighboring nations to join Israel in its efforts to expel Hamas from the region, following the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous endorsement of President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan.

“Israel extends its hand in peace and prosperity to all of our neighbors and calls on them to normalize relations with Israel and join us in expelling Hamas and its supporters from the region,” Netanyahu’s office stated in a social media post.

The UN Security Council adopted Trump’s peace plan on Monday with a 14-0 vote, with two abstentions including Russia. The plan aims to end the two-year conflict in Gaza and would deploy an international stabilization force to the region.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz, addressing the council, described Gaza as “a hell on earth” after years of devastating conflict. “Voting yes today isn’t just endorsing a plan,” Waltz told the council. “It’s affirming our shared humanity. A vote against this resolution is a vote to return to war.”

Netanyahu’s office praised the Security Council for adopting the deal, expressing confidence that the “plan will lead to peace and prosperity because it insists upon full demilitarization, disarmament and the deradicalization of Gaza.” The Israeli government also called for the release of the remaining deceased hostages: Ron Gvili, Dror Or, and Sudthisak Rinthalak.

The Gaza peace plan represents a significant diplomatic achievement for the Trump administration, which has positioned itself as a broker capable of resolving one of the world’s most intractable conflicts. The initiative follows the administration’s earlier success with the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations during Trump’s first term.

Israel has expressed hope that the new peace plan will lead to further expansion of the Abraham Accords. The agreements, initially signed by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco, represented a historic shift in Middle East diplomacy by establishing formal ties with Israel outside the framework of a Palestinian peace deal.

“True to President Trump’s vision, this will lead to further integration of Israel and its neighbors as well as expansion of the Abraham Accords,” Netanyahu’s office stated. “President Trump’s breakthrough leadership will help lead the region to peace and prosperity and a lasting alliance with the United States.”

The plan comes at a critical juncture for Gaza, which has endured catastrophic humanitarian conditions since the conflict intensified two years ago. Infrastructure has been decimated, with schools, hospitals, and essential services reduced to rubble in many areas.

A senior Trump administration official indicated in October, as the peace deal was being implemented, that the U.S. views the end of hostilities as an opportunity to build on previous diplomatic successes. “There’s a lot of positive momentum that will pick up,” the official told reporters. “Hopefully this will lead to much better sentiment and the opportunity to expand the Abraham Accords — to really just change the tone in the region.”

The peace plan represents a potential turning point for regional stability, though significant challenges remain. The full demilitarization of Gaza, the establishment of effective governance structures, and the ongoing threat from militant groups will test the durability of any agreement.

For Netanyahu, who has faced both international criticism and domestic political pressure throughout the conflict, the UN-backed peace plan offers a potential path forward that aligns with his security priorities while potentially opening new diplomatic avenues with regional neighbors.