If Hamas wants to remain in power in the Gaza Strip, it faces “complete obliteration,” declared U.S. President Donald Trump, as quoted Sunday by CNN.
CNN journalist Jake Tapper asked Trump via text message on Saturday what might happen if Hamas insisted on staying in power in the Gaza Strip. The president replied: “Complete obliteration!“
Tapper also asked for a comment regarding Hamas’s response to the U.S. president’s peace plan. He referred to remarks by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, who said that Hamas had rejected the proposal, demanding to avoid disarmament, to keep the Gaza Strip under Palestinian control, and to link the release of hostages to the negotiations. The journalist asked whether the senator was mistaken.
“We will find out. Only time will tell!!!” Trump responded. The president expects that “soon” it will become clear whether Hamas truly wants peace.
Asked whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fully supports ending the bombardment of the Gaza Strip and Trump’s peace vision, he answered: “Yes, on Bibi.”
Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire he proposed would come into effect and assured that he is working hard to make it happen.
On Saturday, the president announced that Israel had agreed to an “initial line of troop withdrawal” in the Gaza Strip. He added that once Hamas confirmed this, the ceasefire would take effect immediately, and the exchange of prisoners and hostages would begin.
Earlier, he had warned that he would not tolerate delays in Hamas’s actions or agree to any solution under which “the Gaza Strip would once again pose a threat.“
On Friday, Hamas announced that it had accepted some points of the U.S. president’s peace plan, including the release of all Israeli hostages, but that other issues required further clarification. Trump, meanwhile, called on Israel to immediately cease the bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
“After negotiations, Israel has agreed to the initial withdrawal line, which we have shown to, and shared with, Hamas. When Hamas confirms, the Ceasefire will be IMMEDIATELY effective, the Hostages and Prisoner Exchange will begin, and we will create the conditions for the next phase of withdrawal, which will bring us close to the end of this 3,000 YEAR CATASTROPHE. Thank you for your attention to this matter and, STAY TUNED!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On Saturday morning, the Israeli army received an order to halt offensive operations in the Gaza Strip. However, the military continued “defensive operations.”