Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to quickly end the ongoing war in Gaza. During a press conference on Thursday, Trump referenced his meeting with Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in late July, stating, “He knows what he’s doing, I did encourage him to get this over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop.”
Trump expressed his disapproval of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ repeated calls for a ceasefire, arguing that such a move would only give Hamas an opportunity to regroup. However, he emphasized his unwavering support for Israel in its pursuit of victory in the war. “I will give Israel the support that it needs to win but I do want them to win fast,” said Trump.
The Middle East is currently experiencing a heightened state of tension following the recent assassinations of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Both events have triggered threats of retaliation against Israel.
Trump’s comments come at a time when ceasefire negotiations are underway, involving Egypt, the United States, and Qatar. Washington, a staunch ally of Israel, believes a ceasefire in Gaza would diminish the risk of a wider war.
Netanyahu has faced accusations of deliberately delaying a ceasefire to appease far-right lawmakers whose parliamentary support hinges on the continuation of the conflict. This stalemate in ceasefire negotiations has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Earlier in May, Trump had voiced strong support for Israel and vowed to suppress campus protests in a private donor meeting. However, in July, he issued a stark warning to Netanyahu, predicting a major conflict in the Middle East, potentially escalating into a “third world war,” if he did not prevail in the upcoming November election.
