US president hosted Israeli prime minister to discuss stalled Gaza peace plan, Iran and an award for Trump
Trump news at a glance: president greets Netanyahu, warns Hamas, threatens to sue Jerome Powell
Donald Trump hosted Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for lunch at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. In remarks to reporters before, during and after their meeting, the two leaders said that they were in broad agreement on most issues, from next steps in Gaza and the possibility of bombing Iran again, to how very deserving Trump is of getting another award.
Asked about the dispute between Israel and Hamas over whether the Palestinian militant group in Gaza has indeed agreed to disarm, Trump said: “They’re gonna be given a very short period of time to disarm … but if they don’t disarm, as they agreed to do, then there will be hell to pay for them.” Pressed further on what would happen if Hamas does not disarm, Trump said: “It’ll be horrible for them.” He then claimed that some unnamed countries that previously supported Hamas were now willing to attack the militants if they do not disarm. “Now if they’re not going to disarm, those same countries will wipe out Hamas,” Trump said. The president’s claim seemed to be in reference to the international stabilization force authorized by the UN security council as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. None of the nations that could take part in that force, however, have pledged to do anything other than serve as peacekeepers.
