When U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a White House press conference that the United States intends to “take over” the Gaza Strip, the president caught the Israeli delegation somewhat off guard.
“We were all surprised to hear the president’s vision, and I think it’s about time to think about new ideas, out of the box,” Danny Danon, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, told JNS in Washington on Wednesday morning.
“I’m at the United Nations. I hear so many leaders speak about the Palestinian issue and about Gaza, but no one is actually reaching out with ideas or with substance,” he said. “I think it was a really interesting approach of the president’s, and for us, it’s good news. We saw a president who stands with Israel, who understands the challenges and who is willing to take action.”
Asked if Netanyahu was surprised by Trump’s remarks, Danon told JNS: “We met Trump’s people. We have conversations. We know they were looking at the Gaza demolition zone, and that something major had to be done, but I think we were not aware about how much the United States will be involved.”
“I think we heard yesterday the leadership of the president—that he is putting the United States in front,” said Danon. “Unlike other countries who say, ‘Well, maybe we will do something,’ or ‘We will pay something,’ he said that we are willing to lead the efforts to build a future for Gaza.”
Danon told JNS that it’s time for other countries in the region to take action, and that Israel has long said Hamas cannot remain in Gaza. “For many countries, it’s more of the same, to condemn Israel, to blame Israel, and not to think about an alternative,” he said.
JNS asked Danon if Netanyahu was disappointed that there wasn’t more of an emphasis on Iran, and in particular about the potential need for military action to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. (Trump has been somewhat more muted on the Islamic Republic than he was in his first term.)
“First of all, the economic pressure is important, and we welcome it,” Danon told JNS. “I think it’s the right thing to do.”
At the same time, he continued, “We think we should keep the military option on the table. I’m sure the prime minister was able to reveal the information we have to the president.”
The process of dialogue with the United States would continued, he said, “but we all agree that the time is moving fast. We have to be prepared for scenarios.”
Going on offense
JNS also asked the Israeli ambassador about the hostage deal, and about whether he thinks it is fair to the Jewish state.
“The Hamas leadership should realize that they have no future in Gaza. Period. We are very determined about that, and I think the United States is also very determined about that,” said Danon.
The terror leaders could negotiate their way out of the Strip, as the Palestine Liberation Organization did in Lebanon in the early 1980s. “Options like that can be negotiated, but if they decide to stay in Gaza, we will have no choice but to resume the military activities,” he added.
Danon told JNS that the agreement “was a very hard decision for the prime minister and for the government.”
“We know that it is a dangerous deal. We are aware of the risks. We are releasing innocent people who were kidnapped. They are releasing convicted murderers. That’s their profession. That’s their destiny in life,” he said. “We know that many of them will go back to terrorism. It’s a calculated risk. It’s a hard decision. I think it was all debated in the government.”
Releasing so many terrorists also “emboldens” Hamas, “and it’s a threat to give them a mental boost,” he said. “But if you eliminate them, then I think it’s manageable—the decision to release so many convicted murderers.”
Asked what Trump welcoming Netanyahu in Washington meant for the Israeli prime minister’s domestic support in Israel, Danon, a longtime member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, spoke to JNS as an ambassador who represents the whole country.
“I was proud to see, as an Israeli, the prime minister being received the way he was received yesterday at the White House. The fact that he was the first prime minister [invited] speaks volumes, especially at the United Nations. We look at those things. You have leaders lining up now,” he said. “As Netanyahu is moving out of the Blair House, the Japanese leader will step in, after that will be the Indian leader, Jordanian, Egyptian.”
“The fact that Israel was the first country to come, it’s very important,” said Danon, “and I’m very happy about that because it shows that we are together.”
Working with Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Trump’s nominee for U.S. envoy to the United Nations, is also important to Danon. “When you show that you are together, it gives you a lot of power,” he said.
JNS asked Danon about his plans at the global body in the coming weeks.
“We want to start to play offense. We’ve played defense for too long since [the Hamas-led invasion of Israel on] Oct. 7 and all the resolutions and the bias. I think now it will be easier to play offense,” he said. “Still, it will be challenging, you have to admit. The United Nations will still be a hostile place. But with the moral clarity of Israel and the power of the United States, we can start to shift the narrative.”
Asked what “offense” means at the United Nations, Danon told JNS that “offense is to initiate the discussion, the resolutions. If today the discussion is completely against Israel, you’re still going to have hostile voices, but once you create other opportunities and platforms, you balance it.”