Israel’s security cabinet on Friday approved Netanyahu’s proposal to take over Gaza’s largest city
President Donald Trump on Monday said Hamas “can’t stay” in Gaza and warned that the terror group will not release hostages without further pressure, as Israel moves forward with its plan to take control of Gaza City and fully eliminate Hamas terrorists, according to a report.
While declining to directly endorse Israel’s offensive plan, Trump told Axios in a phone interview that Hamas “can’t stay” in Gaza and that getting the hostages back will be “very rough” because Hamas terrorists “are not going to let the hostages out in the current situation.” Israel has to decide its next steps, including whether to allow Hamas to remain in Gaza, Trump said.
“I have one thing to say: remember October 7, remember October 7,” Trump added, referring to the bloodthirsty 2023 attack in which Hamas killed more than 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped at least 251 people, including Americans.
Trump spoke on Sunday with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, two days after Israel’s security cabinet—which outlines the country’s foreign and defense policy—approved Netanyahu’s plan to seize control of Gaza City. Netanyahu’s office said the two leaders “discussed Israel’s plans to take control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring an end to the war through the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas.”
Trump’s Monday remarks come as White House envoy Steve Witkoff met with Qatari prime minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani over the weekend to discuss a possible deal to end the war and free all hostages. On Monday, a senior Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks with Egyptian intelligence officials, according to Axios.
Last month, the Trump administration recalled its diplomatic team from Qatar after Hamas rejected the latest U.S. offer and refused to release the remaining Israeli hostages. Israeli intelligence estimates that around 20 hostages are still alive in Gaza, along with the bodies of up to 50 others killed in captivity.
Read the full article here
