Donald Trump said he hoped to quickly reach phase two of the Gaza peace plan, stressing that Hamas would face hell to pay if it did not disarm promptly. The U.S. president, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, underlined the need for Hamas to comply with the disarmament requirement stipulated in the plan.
Trump remarked that Israel has adhered to the peace agenda, despite ongoing military operations in Gaza, and expressed readiness for the U.S. to support further strikes on Iran if its nuclear ambitions were reignited.
At the press conference, Trump stated, As quickly as we can, should be the pace for progress toward phase two, noting, they have to disarm in a fairly short period of time. He also mentioned a potential start to reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
The peace plan, effective since October, envisions the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza, disarmament of Hamas, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, leading to reconstruction efforts. Critics worry about the timeline and the possibility of Netanyahu delaying disarmament in favor of troop withdrawals.
Since the ceasefire began, over 414 Palestinians have reportedly died due to Israeli military actions in Gaza, while the Israeli military has attributed its actions to ceasefire violations by Hamas.
Trump also pressured Iran, warning of further military engagement if the nation continued developing its nuclear capabilities, reiterating the U.S. commitment to monitoring Iran's activities closely.
During their discussions, Trump and Netanyahu covered other regional issues, including the situation in Syria and relations with Hezbollah.
