President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Monday that Israel will finish the job against Hamas if the militant group doesn’t accept a peace deal.
Trump on Monday released his 20-point plan for Gaza, which Netanyahu said he supported during a press conference following their Oval Office meeting.
Trump warned that if Hamas doesn’t also accept the peace plan, Netanyahu has his support to destroy the militant group.
“Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas, but I hope that we’re going to have a deal for peace. And if Hamas rejects the deal, which is always possible … as you know, Bibi, you’d have our full backing to do what you would have to do,” Trump said, referring to Netanyahu’s nickname.
Netanyahu, in his opening remarks at the press conference, also warned that Israeli will finish the job against Hamas.
“If Hamas rejects your plan, Mr. President, or if they supposedly accepts it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself. This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way. But it will be done,” the prime minister said.
He argued that Hamas will keep attacking the Israelis, like the group did on Oct. 7, 2023, if it doesn’t agree to peace.
“We’d prefer the easy way but it has to be done. All these goals must be achieved because we didn’t fight this horrible fight, sacrifice the finest of our young men to have Hamas stay in Gaza and threaten us again and again and again with these horrific massacres,” Netanyahu said.
Trump’s 20-point peace plan outlined that if Hamas refuses to accept the proposal, the plan can go ahead with Israel establishing “terror-free” areas to be handed over from the Israeli military to a temporary “International Stabilization Force” made up of Arab and international partners.
If the militant group accepts it, the plan called for Hamas to lay down its arms and renounce governance in the Strip. Additionally, the plan said Hamas members who commit to peaceful coexistence would be given amnesty to remain in Gaza or they would be granted safe passage to receiving countries.