WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday he wanted peace with Palestinians but described any future independent state as a platform to destroy Israel and for that reason sovereign power of security must remain with Israel.

Israel’s defense minister said he told the military to advance plans for what he called a “humanitarian city” built on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza, according to reports in Israeli media.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently told President Donald Trump that Palestinians have “a free choice” of relocating to other countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday he hoped to reach a deal in a few days for the release of more Israeli hostages held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

Israeli leaders are denying claims that soldiers were ordered to shoot at Palestinians approaching aid sites in Gaza.

President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu answered a question Monday night at the White House on a previously floated idea to "relocate" Palestinians out of Gaza. REPORTER: Is your Palestinian relocation plan still on the table?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attended a memorial service on Thursday for two slain Israeli Embassy staffers as he wraps up a four-day visit to Washington in which talks with President Donald Trump,