Donald Trump has told Israel‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do ‘whatever he wants’ in the next stage of the ceasefire deal with Hamas.
Speaking from the tarmac after attending Daytona 500, President Trump shed light on his latest position about the crisis in Gaza.
‘I told Bibi, you do whatever you want,’ he revealed.
Trump helped to broker a ceasefire deal in mid-January, which was contingent upon the release of all Hamas hostages.
But when it became apparent that Hamas was contemplating not delivering on its end of the bargain, Trump warned ‘all hell is going to break out.’
‘My statement was they’ve got to come back now. The reason I made that statement is because they said they weren’t going to deliver the people that they agreed to deliver.’
President Trump said after his no-nonsense response, Hamas ‘delivered everybody, plus an American.’
But now as attention turns to phase two of the ceasefire agreement, President Trump said he’s left it up to President Netanyahu to determine how best to proceed.
Donald Trump has told Israel ‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to do ‘whatever he wants’ in the next stage of the ceasefire deal with Hamas
Netanyahu also addressed his nation’s efforts in a joint statement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio , acknowledging the ‘common strategy’ both nations have in relation to Gaza
‘That’ll be up to Israel what the next step is,’ he said, before quickly adding: ‘in consultation with me.’
President Trump gave an update on the latest prisoners Hamas freed, revealing they’re in ‘pretty good shape.’
‘Good news,’ he said, ‘because the people from the week before didn’t look like they were in good shape.
‘They looked like Holocaust survivors. Whatever happened to them was horrible.’
Netanyahu also addressed his nation’s efforts in a joint statement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, acknowledging the ‘common strategy’ both nations have in relation to Gaza.
The duo vowed to ‘open the gates of hell’ against Hamas if the terror group does not return all hostages as per the agreement.
‘We can’t always share the details of this strategy with the public, including when the gates of hell will be opened, as they surely will if all our hostages are not released until the last one,’ the statement read.
‘We will eliminate Hamas’ military capability and its political rule in Gaza. We will bring all our hostages home, and we will ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.’
Netanyahu supports President Trump’s bold plan to evacuate two million Palestinians and send them to a new country, like Jordan or Egypt, while turning Gaza into a ‘Riviera of the Middle East’
Gaza city has been reduced to rubble as a result of the fighting between Israel and Hamas, which broke out after Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023
Hamas has remained the de facto ruler of Gaza during phase one of the ceasefire deal and has repeatedly demanded it retain power throughout negotiations
Hamas has remained the de facto ruler of Gaza during phase one of the ceasefire deal and has repeatedly demanded it retain power throughout negotiations.
But President Trump and Netanyahu have made it abundantly clear that they see no way forward in which Hamas maintains control.
‘Peace through strength. You understand that, right? It’s called peace through strength,’ President Trump said on Sunday.
Netanyahu supports President Trump’s bold plan to evacuate two million Palestinians and send them to a new country, like Jordan or Egypt, while turning Gaza into a ‘Riviera of the Middle East.’
‘Trump has presented a bold new vision, the only plan I think can work,’ Netanyahu said.
Critics say the plan equates to ‘ethnic cleansing’, while both Egypt and Jordan have rejected the proposal.