David Friedman Says Israel Must Control Gaza to End Hamas Rule

Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has made a bold case for the future of Gaza: relocation of its population and Israeli control as the only path toward lasting regional stability. Speaking in an interview with Jewish News Syndicate CEO Alex Traiman, Friedman explained that ending Hamas rule and rebuilding Gaza depends on fundamentally rethinking the region’s political and territorial structure.

“At the end of the day, when there is an immediate need to relocate a million and a half Arabs living in Gaza, I think it can be done,” Friedman said, indicating his belief that relocation is not only viable but essential, even in the face of opposition from Arab nations.

Friedman argued that Gaza’s reconstruction cannot proceed while Hamas retains any claim to the land. “Hamas perceives victory or defeat based on territorial control,” he explained. “When Hamas no longer controls territory, there is no longer a Hamas.”

In Friedman’s view, relocation would serve dual purposes: ending the war and rejuvenating the region through new opportunities and a complete break from decades of terror infrastructure.

He was clear about who must take the reins in Gaza’s future: “That has to be Israel.” Whether it’s policing, sanitation, or tax collection, Friedman said Israel is the only capable entity. “Nobody is going to invest a billion dollars into Gaza if the municipal services are being controlled by the PA or Hamas, or any other Arab group,” he said, making a strong case for Israeli administration of the territory.

For Friedman, Israel is the only stable, functioning country that can turn Gaza from a terror stronghold into a viable space for development and peace. He likened the transformation to rebuilding from scratch, where investors and builders need confidence in governance and security confidence that only Israel can provide.

This vision may challenge conventional diplomatic narratives, but it echoes a growing consensus in Israel: that true peace cannot coexist with Hamas rule, and that lasting security demands decisive territorial control.

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