Trump Asks Israeli Leader Netanyahu To Quickly Win Hamas War, Criticises Harris For Demanding Immediate Ceasefire
Former US President Donald Trump revealed that he advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite the conclusion of Israel’s military operations in Gaza during their meeting in July.
Trump shared this information during a press conference on Thursday, where he also criticized Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for consistently calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Trump argued that Harris’s demands for a ceasefire only serve to constrain Israel’s ability to act, implying that her approach is overly restrictive.
Speaking of Israeli Prime Minister, Trump said, “He knows what he’s doing, and I did encourage him to get this over with,” Trump remarked. “It needs to end quickly. Achieve victory and move on. The killing must stop.”
According to Reuters, Trump’s comments came after his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago in late July, where Netanyahu also held talks with Biden and Harris.
The Middle East region has been on high alert for a potential escalation of conflict following the targeted killings of top militant leaders Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas in Iran and Fuad Shukr of Hezbollah in Beirut, with both incidents prompting threats of retaliation against Israel.
Trump’s criticism of Biden and Harris’s ceasefire demands was made amidst this heightened tensions in the region.
“From the beginning, Harris has tried to tie Israel’s hands by demanding an immediate ceasefire,” Trump said, arguing that it “would only allow Hamas to regroup and plan another attack like the one on October 7.”
Trump added, “I will give Israel the support it needs to win, but I want them to win quickly.”
During the same event, Trump also condemned pro-Palestinian supporters advocating for an end to U.S. support for Israel’s military actions, labeling them “pro-Hamas thugs” and “jihad sympathizers.”
He vowed to arrest and deport them if elected president.