TRUMP ISSUES ULTIMATUM TO HAMAS: ‘Hell to Pay’ if Militant Group Fails to Disarm as Netanyahu Meeting Yields Partial Agreement on Gaza
- Donald Trump warns Hamas of dire consequences if it doesn’t put down its arms, saying ‘there’ll be hell to pay’ for the militant group.
- The US President meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, with the pair reaching ‘a lot of conclusions’ but failing to agree on the West Bank.
- Trump reiterates his call for Hamas to disarm, saying it will be given a short amount of time to comply, as the Pentagon announces an $US8.6 billion contract for F-15 fighter jets for Israel.
- The meeting comes as Trump’s plan for Gaza gains UN approval, with proposals for the territory’s development circulating amid concerns over Iran’s nuclear program.
Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Hamas, saying the militant group will face ‘hell to pay’ if it fails to disarm, as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. The US President described the meeting as ‘very productive’, with the pair reaching ‘a lot of conclusions’, but admitted they did not see eye-to-eye on the West Bank.
‘If they don’t disarm, and they agreed to, then there’ll be hell to pay for them, and we don’t want that,’ Trump told reporters, his voice laced with a sense of urgency. ‘We’re giving them a short amount of time, and if they don’t comply, we’ll have to take action.’
The meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence was seen as a crucial step in the Gaza peace talks, with the US President eager to get to the second phase of the ceasefire deal. If successful, the second phase would see the rebuilding of a demilitarised Gaza under international supervision, with the Palestinians forming a ‘technocratic, apolitical’ committee to run daily affairs.
But Trump’s warning to Hamas was not the only dramatic moment from the meeting. The US President also issued a stern warning to Iran, saying the US would ‘knock the hell out of them’ if they reconstitute their nuclear program. ‘We’ll knock them down, we’ll knock the hell out of them,’ Trump said, his voice rising in anger.
As tensions between the US and Iran continue to simmer, Trump’s plan for Gaza has gained UN approval, with proposals for the territory’s development circulating. But the Palestinian Authority’s role in governing Gaza remains uncertain, with Netanyahu saying they would need to undergo ‘meaningful reforms’ before being considered.
Despite the uncertainty, Trump remains optimistic about the prospects for peace in the region. ‘We’re making great progress, and we’re going to get there,’ he said, his voice filled with determination. ‘We’re going to make a deal, and it’s going to be a great deal for everyone.’