Hostages will be released ‘when Hamas is confronted and destroyed,’ Trump says
The article reports on former President Donald Trump’s strong support for Israel’s anticipated military operations in Gaza aimed at confronting and destroying Hamas. Trump stated that the remaining hostages held by Hamas will only be released once Hamas is defeated, emphasizing that a swift military action would increase the chances of success. Hamas currently holds about 50 hostages from the October 7 attacks, with many believed to be in poor health.
While much of the international community is urging an end to the conflict and humanitarian access to Gaza,Israel’s security council has voted to prepare for taking control of Gaza City. Trump’s stance contrasts with other global allies of Israel, such as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who have expressed concerns about further bloodshed and military support.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has indicated that Israel seeks control over Gaza but intends to hand governance over to Arab forces, amidst internal political debates and public protests focusing on prioritizing hostage release.Arab nations have called for Hamas to negotiate a deal to prevent the offensive and have stressed the need for a clear political pathway, including palestinian statehood. Some countries are moving toward officially recognizing a Palestinian state, a move opposed by Netanyahu and Trump, who argue it would reward Hamas for its actions.
Hostages will be released ‘when Hamas is confronted and destroyed,’ Trump says
President Donald Trump appeared to back Israel’s expected renewed operations in Gaza against Hamas on Monday morning.
Trump has been one of the few international leaders to continue to back Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while several of Israel’s other allies have called on him to do more to end the war and have announced their intent to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming months.
“We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!” Trump said Monday on Truth Social. “The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be.”
Hamas is still holding roughly 50 hostages, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive but in poor health. They have been held by Hamas since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks that ignited the current iteration of fighting between the terrorist group and Israel.
With much of the international community pushing for Israel and Hamas to agree to end the conflict and allow for much-needed humanitarian aid to get into the strip, Israel’s security council voted earlier this month for the Israeli military to make preparations to take control of Gaza City.
Trump’s apparent support for such an operation, saying it will improve the “chances of success,” stands in contrast to comments from other global leaders who are traditional allies of the Jewish state.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the new offensive “will only bring more bloodshed,” while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced his country will not approve any exports of military equipment that Israel could use in Gaza.
Netanyahu said this month that Israel does not want to annex Gaza, rather it wants to gain control over it and then hand it “over to Arab forces that will govern Gaza properly.”
Arab countries are urging Hamas to agree to a deal to stop Israel from carrying out this latest offensive push, which could also be an Israeli ploy to get them to make capitulations in negotiations as well.
More conservative members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition want to see Israel annex Gaza and the West Bank, while the prime minister is also facing protests at home calling on him to prioritize securing the release of the hostages over all military objectives.
Many Arab leaders have said their countries would not get involved in such an effort unless there was a concrete pathway toward long-term Palestinian statehood.
AT LEAST FIVE COUNTRIES TO RECOGNIZE A PALESTINIAN STATE NEXT MONTH — WHAT PUSH THEM TO IT?
“We are standing ready, of course, to help, to contribute to any international force to be deployed in Gaza in some specific parameters,” Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Monday during a joint press conference with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa. “First of all, to have a security council resolution, to have a clear-cut mandate, and of course to come within a political horizon.”
Netanyahu and Trump have argued that recognizing a Palestinian state would amount to rewarding Hamas for the Oct. 7 attack.
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