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announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... erika: i love seeing interns succeed, i love seeing them come back and join the engagement teams and seeing where they go from there, i get to watch their personal growth, it makes my heart happy. (laughs) announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. announcer: and now, "bbc news" ♪ >> this is bbc world news ♪ america. prime minister netanyahu and u.s. president met in washington to discuss the future of the cease-fire. that meeting hours after mr.

trump announces the u.s. will stop funding unrwa, the u.n. relief agency in gaza. ♪ >> welcome to world news america. good to have you with us. netanyahu is in washington to see -- to meet with president trump to discuss future cease-fire in gaza. he flew in sunday and is capping his trip with a visit to the white house, the first with a foreign leader since mr. trump reentered the oval office. this as negotiations over the second phase of the cease-fire are meant to begin. monday was the deadline for the talks to start. they sent a delegation to meet with mediators in qatar, but said they would not talk until meeting in the u.s.

that means the future of the world or peace in gaza could be shaped by talks taking place today in the oval office. mr. trump has made it clear he wants the war in gaza to end and netanyahu is under pressure from his allies to resume the war until gaza -- hamas is totally defeated. president trump describes his vision of the future for palestinians in gaza -- pres. trump: it has not worked, it has never worked. i feel differently about gaza than a lot of people. i think they should get a good, fresh beautiful piece of land and get people to put up the money to build it and make it nice and habitable and enjoyable. >> they don't want to leave. pres. trump: i don't know how they could want to stay. it is a demolition site, a pure demolition site. if we could find a piece of land or numerous pieces of land and

build them some really nice places, plenty of the money in the area, that is for sure, i think that would be better than going back to gaza, which has had decades and decades of death. >> the president made those comments as he signed an executive order withdrawing the u.s. from a number of u.n. bodies including the human rights council. it also prohibits future u.s. funding for the u.n. agency for palestinian refugees known as unrwa. u.s. funding was already suspended last year after unrwa employees were accused of participating in the october 7 attacks. meeting to discuss is a foreign affairs journalist and host of a podcast, good to have you with us. set the scene and talk about the significance of the fact prime minister netanyahu is the first foreign leader to visit the new u.s. president. guest: that is not by accident and both men, this relationship

has been important in their campaigns. at one point when netanyahu was campaigning he had xers with trump. the israel issue was prominent in trump's campaign and he was critical of the biden administration's handling of the issue. you had envoys from the incoming trump administration and state department from the last administration working together to get this cease-fire deal in late january. that is still holding for the moment but the u.s. special envoy had a press conference outside the white house. this deal as lauded that could only happen with trump being president, something i have heard from people on all sides. there was an impetus to get this done before he came to office. but you heard the special envoy say it is not a great deal. they are working with a bad deal. the framework was already there, so they are hoping in phase two they can work it out better. as this deal holds, what comes next? that has been the question for a

while. what happens day one in gaza when the deal ends and you look to either rebuild, remove the populations, or figure out a self governing ability for gaza. it is not going to be easy. as we saw the president's comments, it is throwing a wrench in the works. host: we have president trump and prime minister netanyahu speaking in the oval office. let's listen in. pres. trump: what is the alternative, go where? if they had an alternative, they would not go to gaza and live in a beautiful alternative that is safe. >> would palestinians have the right to return to gaza? pres. trump: it would be my hope we could do something really nice, really good, where they would not want to return. why would they want to return? the place has been hell.

one of the meanest, toughest places on earth. right now, i have seen every picture from every angle better than if i were there. nobody can live there. if we can build them through massive amounts of money supplied by other people, very rich nations, they are willing to supply it. if we can build something for them, one of the countries, could be jordan, egypt, other countries. you could build four, five or six areas and build really good quality housing, like a beautiful town, like some place where they can live and not die because gaza, it is guaranteed they will and of dying. the same thing will happen again. it has happened over and over again and it will happen again as sure as you are standing there.

i hope we can do something where they would not want to go back. who would want to go back? they have experienced nothing but death and destruction. >> what will you do? pres. trump: i don't think they are going to tell me now. i think they are going to tell biden no and other people. >> so you think it will happen? pres. trump: i think there is a good chance. >> who were you thinking about? pres. trump: all of them, probably 1.7 people, maybe 1.8. they will be resettled where they can live a beautiful life and not worry about dying every day. [crosstalk] >> [indiscernible]

pres. trump: i don't see it happening, it is too dangerous for people. nobody can go there. warriors don't want to be there, soldiers don't want to be there. how can you have people go back? you are single back into gaza? the same thing will happen. it will only be death. the best way to do it is go out, get beautiful, open areas with sunlight coming through and you build something nice. they are not going to want to go back to gaza. >> prime minister netanyahu, what is your message to the families of the hostages worried that the deal will not go through? p.m. netanyahu: same message as the beginning of the war, get them out and back. we have over 75% of people, who everybody believed would not get out, we got them in successive deals. and most recently with the help of president trump. we are not going to give up on any of them.

hamas is not going to be in gaza. we will get everyone back. >> how optimistic are you about the cease-fire? p.m. netanyahu: we are going to try. that is one of the things we are going to talk about. when israel and the u.s. work together, president trump and i worked together, the chances go up a lot. it is when we don't work together, israel and the u.s. don't work together, that creates problems. when the other side sees daylight between us, in the last few years, to put it mildly, it is more difficult. when we cooperate, the chances are good. >> [indiscernible] pres. trump: you say iran is weak, i appreciate that.

they are very strong right now, and we will not allow them to have a nuclear weapon. it is simple. i signed a strong proclamation. iran was in big trouble when i left, they were broke. they did not have money for hamas, hezbollah, you had no problem. october 7 could have never happened. when i left, october 7 could have never happened. russia and ukraine could never have happened. they became strong fast, sold massive amounts of oil to china and everybody else who would not buy the oil when i was president because we said don't buy the oil. they became rich very quickly. but they are not weak. does not mean they won't be weak, but we just don't want them to have a nuclear weapon. >> [indiscernible] pres. trump: he does not know what he wants. what do you know about anything? >> is that option on the table?

pres. trump: no, it could be other places, too. there are many people who have reached out, many leaders of countries, who would like to participate in that. does not have to be jordan and egypt, but i think it could also be them. >> your relationship with mr. netanyahu, ups and downs, how would you describe? pres. trump: mostly ups. >> [indiscernible] pres. trump: what? >> the palestinian authority, [indiscernible] pres. trump: it has had a pretty bad time of it. >> qatar has funded terrorism, are they part of the solution? pres. trump: i think they are trying to help. qatar is absolutely trying to help. i know them well and they are doing what they can.

tough situation, but they are trying to help. thank you everybody. host: that was the u.s. president speaking moments ago to the israeli prime minister, netanyahu, before they head in to their meeting. we will wait for the press conference afterward to find out what they discussed and what comes out of the meeting. listening to initial comments with me, christina, the host of the one decision podcast. what stood out to you? guest: there is a fundamental shift in u.s. policy. to hear the president say he thinks palestinians should leave gaza, we will clean them out, rebuild neighborhoods, maybe they could do them in different sections. that is unclear if territory goes to different regional allies. you heard a questioner shout that jordan and egypt say they are not taking in these refugees.

he said they may have said no to biden, but they will not say no to me. we will see. qatar, he has criticized in the past as a funder of terrorism, but he says he knows them well and things they are trying to help. the qatari prime minister made remarks not long ago saying he wants to make the middle east great again. they are wisely playing into a line that trump is responding to. this is a fundamental shift in u.s. foreign policy toward this region, gaza, israel. it will shake a lot of leafs and a lot of phones are blowing up about now. host: comments on iran saying trump believes that country is strong right now. guest: yes, but he also said he wants to talk to them, is willing to engage. someone asked him how to do that . he said, reach out to me. we have heard from administration sources he is willing to make a deal with iran. you would expected to be tough

giving his last administration's stance but he is willing to speak. though he says they are strong, most analysts are saying they are in diminished capacity over what has happened the last few months. host: thank you for being with us. i am also joined in the studio by israel's ambassador to the u.n. thank you for taking the time. guest: thank you for having me. host: your reaction from the comments we just heard ahead of that meeting from trump as he sat in the oval office with netanyahu? guest: we cannot ignore that netanyahu came to the white house only two weeks after the inauguration. it shows the strength of the bond between israel and the u.s. and between trump and netanyahu. we saw the chemistry with what the president said. it is good news. a lot of issues to discuss, a lot of enemies and together with

the u.s., we can start a new era in the middle east. host: i want to talk about those talks with regard to the future of the cease-fire in phase 2, but want to touch on what we heard from trump on regards to the future of gaza, to the literal location of palestinians. we have already heard trump say, couldn't palestinians go to jordan and egypt? something both countries have rejected. palestinians said that is not something they want. can you understand concerns when it comes to what trump has said from palestinians about the fact they feel they are being asked to leave gaza? guest: the time to think is out-of-the-box, new ideas. it is not our position or up to us. we have no intention to stay in gaza. we went into gaza because of october 7. our goals are to release the hostages and make sure hamas is not in power.

what happens the day after -- the president has a point, it is not sustainable in gaza today. there is a need for something new. that is for the president to discuss with other leaders. host: what about the palestinian authority being in charge? guest: [indiscernible] we are fighting in the city of jenin. they tried to fight terrorists in that city and failed. i do not think they will have that ability. leave aside politically if they want it or not. they are not capable of controlling part of jordan and samaria. host: i want to talk about phase two of the cease-fire getting to that point. president trump has said he wants to see a permanent cessation of hostilities. is that something prime minister netanyahu is committed to in the future? guest: we are starting negotiations about the second

phase. we know it we want to achieve, a new future for the people of gaza without hamas, and want to see no threat on the border. if we can do renegotiations, i doubt it, but if hamas will take leadership out of gaza and and now -- allow new leadership, maybe we can achieve a second phase. but if hamas insists on staying in power, we have no choice and will continue with efforts to make sure we don't have a radical regime in our backyard. host: does that mean going back to gaza and fighting? guest: i cannot give you the details of what it will look like, but it will not be pleasant for us or the people of gaza. we have to look at what happens in the past and understand for the people of gaza and us, they deserve a future without hamas. host: do you think there is also pressure coming from trump on netanyahu right now?

he has said he wants to see a cessation of hostilities. guest: i think it when you look at the goals they both agree on many deals. we don't want to see hamas back in power in gaza, we want hostages back in israel and other nations. the question is how to get to that point. you have to have a discussion, tell the president what we think. it will not be a place to enforce policy. we are on good terms with the president. he learned the complicity of those issues and i think together we can move forward. host: i want to touch on iran and comments from trump saying he believes iran is strong right now. what is it israel would like to see in terms of policy from the u.s. toward iran? guest: today he signed executive

orders regarding sanctions against iran. to isolate iran. it is not only the nuclear threat, but feeding terrorist groups around the world. look at what is happening in lebanon, syria, yemen with the houthis. the money is coming from iran. i think it is the right approach. we cannot allow iran to become nuclear. we have been speaking about it for years. the president told us it will not happen now while he is in charge of the u.s. the question is how, whether sanctions or more actions. host: do you mean going further than sanctions? guest: we have to leave all options on the table. host: israel's ambassador to the united nations, thank you. joining me live is a professor

at the center for contemporary arab studies at georgetown university in washington. thank you for taking the time to be with us. i'm sure you will have been listening in two initial comments from president trump meeting with prime minister netanyahu before they sit down for that official meeting. in those comments resto saying he did not see why palestinians would want to go back to gaza. i would like to get your initial reaction to those comments. guest: it is jarring to hear the president double and triple down on this idea of uprooting an entire population of more than 2 million human beings, very casually discussing their relocation elsewhere, as though they were not actual human beings.

it is reckless beyond words to imagine the president of the most powerful nation in the world would seriously call for such a thing that would be illegal, it would be immoral, and at the end of the day would be stupid. it would plunge the region into generations of chaos and instability. this whole israel-palestine conflict began in 1948 with the uprooting of the palestinian population, 2/3 of them, and their expulsion to neighboring countries. that is why this conflict has endured for as long as it has. imagine doing that again, and we are talking about decades of more conflict and violence and

instability, which is precisely why neighboring countries like egypt and jordan are not prepared to go along with that. host: the u.s. administration has said, in assessments when it looks at the scale of destruction in gaza, rebuilding it would take at least 15 years. the argument has been previously from president trump that he would like to rebuild and make somewhere where palestinians could live, in a way that is more comfortable than the levels of devastation we are seeing new. do you give credence to that, or do you feel we are seeing a fundamental shift in u.s. policy when it comes to the gaza strip, the future of a two state solution? guest: never mind a two state solution. we are talking about expelling a

population of more than 2 million people. this is not about diplomacy. i'm fairly certain president trump is not someone who has his finger on the pulse of palestinian public opinion. had he talked to any palestinian, he would know that no palestinian would agree to be uprooted permanently from their homeland. the fact he can suggest it so casually shows a callousness. but president trump does not have a history of concern for the well-being and lives and rights of palestinians. no, it is not a serious proposal based on what is in the interest of palestinians. it is a proposal that reflects the most extreme fantasies of the most extreme elements in israeli politics including

members of netanyahu's coalition. it can be couched in humanitarian terms, but ultimately it is about ethnic cleansing and making gaza available to the settlement by is really jews, which has long been the fantasy of the extremists in israel. host: when it comes to the cease-fire ahead of this meeting we have seen president trump say he wants to see a permanent end to the fighting in gaza. do you see him as being a leader that can exert that pressure on netanyahu? guest: it is not clear. i think president trump has his own reasons for wanting to see a permanent cease-fire. i think it is about burnishing his own credentials as a dealmaker, a peacemaker. everyone knows he fancies himself a future recipient of a nobel peace prize.

those are the reasons he would like to see the cease-fire hold. i think he would like to pursue normalization between israel and saudi arabia, but that contradicts everything he said about gaza, the population being uprooted and expelled. for prime minister netanyahu, there is a different set of calculations. we heard from his representative at the u.n., a formula for how israel plans to do away with the second phase of the cease-fire, to resume the fighting against hamas. host: we only have a minute left, unfortunately. we were talking about the future of a viable governance in gaza. the ambassador saying he did not believe it could be the palestinian authority. who do you think should be in charge the day after? guest: it should be palestinians

who determine their own future in their own homeland. whether it is the palestinian authority or some new combination of political forces that represent the will of the palestinian people. it has to be palestinians who are responsible for their own future and well-being in gaza and the west bank. host: we are out of time and we do have to say goodbye for now announcer: funding for presentation of this program is provided by... announcer: funding was also provided by, the freeman foundation. and by judy and peter blum kovler foundation, pursuing solutions for america's neglected needs. ♪ ♪

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♪ geoff: good evening. geoff bennett. amna: and i'm amna nawaz