Former National Security Adviser HR McMaster has insisted that the ongoing conflict in Gaza will continue and that the lives of Palestinians will not improve “until Hamas is destroyed.”
mcmaster I participated Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” he said a ceasefire is necessary, but first Hamas must be defeated.
“We need a ceasefire in Gaza,” he began. “The fact is that I believe that life cannot get any better for the Palestinian people until Hamas is destroyed. And certainly, we have to get the hostages back.”
McMaster, who served in President-elect Trump's White House from February 2017 to April 2018, acknowledged the difficult international situation that the next Trump administration will inherit.
He said the Trump administration has a “huge opportunity” with Israel, Iran and proxies at this time.
“I would like to see more active cooperation with Israel and others, not only to recover the hostages, but also to make Iran pay for its terrorist and proxy networks across the region,” McMaster said.
He argued that Iran was “always the weaker party” and that the United States needed to “act strongly” and work toward detente language.
“I think President Trump understands,” McMaster said.
McMaster argued that one thing President Trump understands is that he is imposing economic costs on Iran and foreign adversaries.
Trump touted his tariff plans on the campaign trail and has already said he would take action on day one. He said he would impose new tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico and China through an executive order. The president-elect said the new tariffs are aimed at encouraging all three countries to do more to secure their borders and tackle the fentanyl crisis.
McMaster argued that if President Trump imposed financial constraints on Iran, it could favor war.
“I think imposing costs on Iran and isolating Iran financially and economically will be an immediate reality in the Trump administration,” he said.
