US President Donald Trump strongly defended Israel’s strikes against Hamas members, stating that he believes the Gaza peace deal he recently brokered will hold despite rogue group elements attacking Israeli soldiers. Furthermore, Trump emphasized that he thinks the vital agreement will remain stable and strong. “The Israelis hit back, and they should hit back,”
Trump firmly told reporters on Air Force One Wednesday, en route to a significant meeting of Asia-Pacific leaders in South Korea after his earlier visit to Japan. Significantly, Trump reiterated this firm stance: “When that happens, they should absolutely hit back.”
Escalation in Gaza Tests Ceasefire
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday ordered “forceful strikes” against Hamas in direct response to their attacks on Israeli soldiers operating near Gaza, testing the recent agreement’s core points. This key agreement explicitly included both Hamas and Israeli forces stopping their aggressive attacks against each other’s positions.
Consequently, the resulting bombing tragically killed at least 20 people late Tuesday, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported, citing important medical sources confirming the casualties. The AP reported that people clearly heard the sounds of tank fire and loud explosions reverberating throughout Gaza City and elsewhere across the territory. Additionally, the Associated Press also reported that Israel notified the US in advance of launching these decisive strikes.
Disarmament Remains Non-Negotiable
Nevertheless, Trump insisted that “nothing” is going to jeopardize the crucial ceasefire that he personally brokered just over two weeks ago, confidently adding that Hamas is only “a very small part of peace in the Middle East.”
Trump issued a clear warning to the group about their future behavior: “They said they would be good, and if they’re good, they’re going to be happy, and if they’re not good, we’re going to terminate them. Their lives will be terminated.” Therefore, Trump forcefully reiterated that Hamas must disarm, which constitutes one of the important points of his comprehensive 20-point plan previously accepted by the group.
The US and the European Union have both officially designated the organization as a terrorist organization. Finally, Trump concluded with another stark message: “If they don’t behave, we will take them out.”
