Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he might allow Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resume military action in Gaza if Hamas fails to honor its commitments under the ceasefire deal. In a call with CNN, Trump stated that Israeli forces could return to the streets “as soon as I say the word.”
Trump’s remarks come amid Israeli accusations that Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the US, has not fully complied with the agreement to hand over hostages, both living and deceased, as part of the deal to end hostilities in Gaza. The delay in returning deceased hostages has raised tensions in Israel, although the fragile ceasefire has so far held.
Under Point 4 of Trump’s 20-point peace plan, all hostages, alive and deceased, were to be returned within 72 hours of Israel accepting the agreement. So far, all 20 living Israeli hostages have been returned, while Hamas has handed over the bodies of eight individuals, including four returned last night. The Israeli military reported that one of these bodies does not belong to an Israeli hostage, and four to five more are expected to be returned.
Trump emphasized the significance of rescuing the living hostages, saying, “Getting those 20 hostages out was paramount.” Senior US advisers noted that Hamas is not believed to be violating the ceasefire despite delays in returning bodies and that the US is assisting through third-party mediators to locate the remaining remains, which may be buried under debris from years of conflict.
Following the hostage release, clashes have erupted between Hamas and rival factions, including reports of public executions. Trump reiterated that Hamas must disarm, stating in his 20-point plan that Gaza would eventually be demilitarized and under independent monitoring, with Hamas agreeing to no role in governance.
Currently, Trump said, Hamas is reportedly “clearing out the gangs, violent gangs,” though he acknowledged that some actions may be under investigation. Point 6 of his peace plan offers amnesty to Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence and disarmament, while those wishing to leave Gaza would be granted safe passage to other countries.
When asked about Israel resuming military action if Hamas refuses to disarm, Trump responded, “Israel will return to those streets as soon as I say the word. If Israel could go in and knock the crap out of them, they’d do that. I had to hold them back. I had it out with Bibi.”
Despite these tensions, Trump expressed optimism about long-term peace in the region, citing support from 59 countries for the ceasefire deal, many of whom attended a ceremony in Egypt supporting the “Trump Peace Agreement” and the Abraham Accords.
Trump also noted that he continues to work on ending the Russian war in Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expected to visit the White House on Friday. When asked which would be a greater achievement—Middle East peace or resolving the Ukraine conflict—Trump remarked, “One’s been going on for three years, the other three thousand.”
During the call, Trump also criticized media coverage, specifically a recent interview with Vice President JD Vance on ABC News, while expressing hope that CBS News might become fairer under new management. He indicated willingness to consider a one-on-one interview with CNN, which he has not done since 2016.
