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 with Netanyahu after their meeting, Trump said Israel had lived up to the plan 100%, despite continuing attacks by its military in Gaza.
The US president also mentioned that his country could support another major strike on Iran if it resumed rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.
In response to Trump's threat, Iran's supreme leader's top political adviser, Ali Shamkhani, stated that any aggression towards Iran would be met with an immediate harsh response.
Trump further asserted that Hamas must disarm in a fairly short period of time and that reconstruction efforts in Gaza could commence pretty soon.
The Gaza peace plan, initiated in October, mandates the establishment of a technocratic government in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops, followed by reconstruction efforts.
Despite the terms of the plan, critics have suggested that Netanyahu may delay the process to ensure Hamas disarms before any Israeli withdrawals take place.
Trump conveyed confidence in Israel's actions, saying, I'm not concerned about anything that Israel's doing, I'm concerned about what other people are doing or maybe aren't doing.
Amidst these discussions, the ongoing violence has resulted in numerous casualties, with reports indicating that at least 414 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli military actions since the ceasefire began.
Trump, who has previously signaled his willingness for military actions against Iran, reiterated his stance against the country’s nuclear ambitions, stating: I hope they're not trying to build up again, because if they are we're going to have no choice but to eradicate that build up.
As tensions persist within the region, Trump and Netanyahu also touched on other geopolitical issues, including stability with Syria and Hezbollah. Trump's remarks revealed his expectations for collaborative efforts between Israel and the new Syrian leadership, showcasing the complexities of the ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.
