President Donald Trump has stated that he would consider allowing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military action in Gaza if Hamas refuses to uphold its end of the ceasefire deal. Trump's comments come as Israel accuses Hamas of not adhering to the agreement to hand over hostages, living and dead, as part of a deal to end the fighting in Gaza. This has caused rising anger in Israel, where authorities have warned that humanitarian aid shipments will be reduced or delayed due to the small number of deceased hostages turned over. However, the ceasefire has held so far.
Trump's 20-point peace plan outlines a future where Hamas agrees not to have any role in the governance of Gaza, which will be demilitarized and under independent monitoring. The plan also states that once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.
When asked about the possibility of Hamas refusing to disarm, Trump responded that Israel will return to the streets as soon as he says the word. He also mentioned that he had to hold back the Israel Defense Forces and Netanyahu administration from taking more aggressive action. Despite this, Trump expressed optimism about the long-term prospects for peace in the region, citing the strong support of other countries.
Trump also discussed his efforts to end the Russian war against Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to visit the White House on Friday. The president wondered which accomplishment would be bigger – peace in the Middle East or between Russia and Ukraine, acknowledging that the Middle East conflict has been historically more difficult to resolve.
