Trump to Axios on Israel's offensive: Hamas "can't stay" in Gaza
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Trump with Netanyahu in the Oval Office in April. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
President Trump stopped short of directly endorsing Israel's plans to attack and occupy Gaza City in a brief phone interview with Axios on Monday, but said he didn't believe Hamas would release the hostages unless the situation changed.
Why it matters: Some of Israel's top military commanders oppose the planned offensive in part out of fear that it will put Israeli hostages in danger. Trump argued it was always going to be "very rough to get them," because Hamas "are not going to let the hostages out in the current situation."
- The Israeli plan has faced enormous international backlash given the humanitarian disaster already unfolding in Gaza, but Trump has decided not to intervene and to let Israel proceed as it sees fit.
- While Trump declined to say whether he supported the planned operation, he seemed to agree with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's argument that more military pressure on Hamas is required.
What he's saying: Trump said Israel has to decide what to do next and also whether to allow Hamas to remain in Gaza, but that in his opinion "they can't stay there."
- "I have one thing to say: remember October 7, remember October 7," Trump emphasized, referring to the Hamas attack.
Driving the news: Trump told Axios he'd had a "good call" with Netanyahu on Sunday.
- Netanyahu's office said they "discussed Israel's plans to take control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to bring an end to the war through the release of the hostages and the defeat of Hamas" in the Sunday call.
- Netanyahu said in a press conference on Sunday that he asked the Israel Defense Forces to present plans for "taking over" Gaza City.
- Israeli officials said the planning process and the evacuation of Palestinian civilians from Gaza City could take several weeks.
Between the lines: That leaves a window to try and reach a ceasefire and hostage deal before the offensive begins.
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani discussed the possibility of a comprehensive deal to end the war and free all the hostages during a meeting over the weekend in Ibiza, Spain.
- A senior Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Monday for talks with Egyptian intelligence officials on the possibility of resuming negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal. The Hamas delegation left Qatar for Turkey two weeks ago when talks collapsed.
Behind the scenes: Two sources with direct knowledge said the Hamas delegation had been complaining to Turkish officials about the way the Qataris handled the talks, but the Turks encouraged Hamas to resume contact with the Egyptian and Qatari mediators in order to try and get a deal.
- "The Turks have been very helpful," an Israeli official said.
What to watch: The Qatari and Egyptian mediators are now trying to come up with a new proposal that will build on Witkoff's proposal for a partial 60-day ceasefire deal.
- In order to turn it into a comprehensive proposal to end the war, they plan to add more elements about the post-war situation in Gaza.
