On Monday, President Trump stated that Hamas must not be allowed to stay in the Gaza Strip, particularly in light of the concerns stemming from the tragic October 7 terrorist incidents.
Although Trump has pulled back support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposed invasion and occupation of Gaza City, he does endorse removing Hamas from the region, acknowledging the ongoing threats that such groups pose to Israel.
“Remember October 7th,” Trump emphasized, recalling the devastating attacks of 2023 that led to over 1,200 fatalities in Israel. There was also an attempted attack that affected around 250 individuals.
In a conversation with Netanyahu this past Sunday, Trump affirmed that they had discussed Israel’s strategy for advancing into Gaza City. He maintained that military action seems to be the most effective response to Hamas.
While he noted that intervening poses a risk to the remaining 50 hostages, he acknowledged that recovering them has always been quite challenging.
Currently, it’s believed that only 20 hostages are still alive. Among those confirmed deceased are Omer Nutra, 22, an Israeli American, and 19-year-old Itai Chen.
Despite the precarious situation, Trump expressed skepticism that Hamas would negotiate to release hostages, especially given the strained ceasefire discussions between the groups and Israel.
He remarked, “Hamas will not be taking out hostages under the current circumstances.”
Ultimately, Trump indicated that he would not intervene in Israel’s plans as he believes they are justified.
His comments come amid a worldwide backlash against Netanyahu’s strategy to clear Gaza City, which involves military occupation and the dismantling of Hamas cells operating there.
Israel has been escalating its military actions in Gaza as it prepares to displace the city’s refugees to target Hamas terrorist networks.
Although this strategy won’t fully align with the initial plan to secure the entire strip, Israeli military officials are concerned about the safety of hostages, leading to some resistance about the invasion.
Netanyahu has defended this approach, stating that it’s the most practical way to exert pressure on Hamas and bring them back to the negotiation table.
He reiterated that the objective is for Hamas to be entirely disarmed, calling for a relinquishment of control over the Gaza Strip, which has effectively been governed by terrorist groups for nearly two decades.
According to Israel, the war aims to conclude once Hamas is eradicated, with Netanyahu’s intention to place the Palestinian area under Israeli oversight until a peaceful civilian government can eventually be established.
