In brief
During a press conference following talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump highlighted his desire to rapidly advance to phase two of the Gaza peace plan, which necessitates Hamas disarmament. Trump characterized the current situation as fraught with consequences for Hamas if disarmament is not adhered to, while also discussing potential military responses to ongoing tensions with Iran. Criticism of the pace of negotiations emerged as some observers questioned the commitment to establishing a political future for Palestinians. The meeting comes amidst reports of continued violence in the region.
Donald Trump said he hoped to reach phase two of the Gaza peace plan very quickly, as he warned Hamas would have hell to pay if it did not disarm soon.
The US president, whose 20-point peace plan requires the militant group to disarm, made the comments as he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida for talks on Monday.
During a press conference after their meeting, Trump stated that Israel had lived up to the plan 100%, despite ongoing military operations in Gaza.
The US president indicated further military action against Iran could be supported if it resumes its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programmes.
In response to Trump's statements, Iran's top political adviser, Ali Shamkhani, warned that any aggression towards Iran would be met with an immediate harsh response.
Trump insisted it was crucial for Hamas to disarm expeditiously, asserting: If they don't disarm as, as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, and then there will be hell to pay for them. They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time.
He added that reconstruction in Gaza could begin pretty soon under the proposed peace plan, which aims to establish a technocratic government following disarmament and a potential Israeli troop withdrawal.
Critics have raised concerns that Netanyahu might prolong the process, demanding Hamas disarm fully before Israeli troops retreat. There are allegations that the Israeli prime minister is hesitant to engage meaningfully in discussions about the Palestinian political future.
Hamas representatives have countered that disarmament should parallel progress towards a sovereign Palestinian state.
When asked if he believed Israel was slowing the transition to phase two, Trump stood firmly behind Israel's actions, stating: I'm not concerned about anything that Israel's doing, I'm concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren't doing.
Since the ceasefire's implementation, reports indicate over 400 Palestinians have been killed, attributed to ongoing military assaults by Israel, which claims to respond only to ceasefire breaches. The Israeli forces have also stated they were not to blame for the deaths of three Israeli soldiers throughout this period.
During the briefing, Trump reiterated that the US would undertake further strikes against Iran should it be discovered that the country is utilizing different sites for nuclear development.
Iran has asserted that the allegations about its nuclear ambitions are unfounded, labeling them a psychological operation against the state.
The discussions between Trump and Netanyahu also explored regional tensions involving Syria and Hezbollah. Trump expressed hope for a peaceful Israeli-Syrian border, while Netanyahu emphasized concerns regarding the new Syrian president and his past associations.
