Trump says Israel will resume fighting in Gaza if he gives the order. “I had a fight with Bibi”
Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would consider giving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu permission to resume military action in Gaza if Hamas refuses to abide by a ceasefire agreement. The US president told CNN that Israeli forces could be back on the streets “as soon as I give the order.”
Trump has previously warned that Hamas must disarm. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
“The situation with Hamas will be resolved quickly,” the president said in a brief phone call.
Trump's remarks come as Israel accuses Hamas of failing to honor an agreement to hand over hostages, dead or alive, as part of a deal to end fighting in Gaza.
Point 4 of Trump's 20-point peace plan stated that “Within 72 hours of Israel's public acceptance of this agreement, all hostages, living and dead, will be returned.” By Wednesday morning, all 20 surviving Israeli hostages had been returned to Israel. Hamas also handed over the bodies of eight people, and the Israeli military said one of them did not belong to an Israeli hostage.
The American president emphasized that saving the hostages alive was important in itself. After Trump's conversation with CNN on Tuesday, two senior US advisers said the US does not believe Hamas is in breach of its commitments under the cease-fire agreement by not handing over the remains of the former hostages.
According to them, the US has received assurances from the group – through third-party mediators – that they will do everything possible to locate and return the remains of the remaining hostages.
Following the release of the hostages, violent clashes erupted between Hamas and rival groups, including one incident that culminated in an apparent public execution.
Donald Trump has previously warned that Hamas must disarm or “we will disarm them”.
The US president told CNN that at this point Hamas “go in and take out gangs, violent gangs.”
Trump was asked if it was possible for Hamas to execute innocent Palestinians.
“I'm looking into this matter. We'll find out the truth. It could be gangs and stuffit is,” he replied.
Point 6 of the president's peace plan states that “once all the hostages are released, Hamas members who pledge to coexist peacefully and surrender their weapons will be granted amnesty. Hamas members who wish to leave Gaza will be granted safe passage to host countries“.
“Israel will return to those streets as soon as I give the order”
CNN also asked Trump what will happen if Hamas refuses to disarm.
“I'm thinking about it. Israel will be back on those streets as soon as I give the order. If Israel could come in and beat them, they would.” the president replied.
The President added:
“I had to stop them. I had a fight with Bibi.”
The president was optimistic about the long-term prospects for peace, especially given the strong support of other countries in the region.
“Fifty-nine countries are part of this agreement,” he said of the cease-fire agreement, apparently referring to countries that have attended a ceremony in Egypt to sign a high-level principled document called the “Trump Peace Accord” or that have expressed support.
“I've never seen anything like it. Now everything is happening. They want to be part of the Abraham Accords. Now that Iran is no longer a problem.”
