Before assuming office on January 20, Donald Trump urged Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group, to release Israeli hostages. The U.S. President-elect warned that failure to do so could lead to the Middle East spiraling out of control. He issued this warning during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida last Tuesday.
Trump stated, “This won’t end well for Hamas; to be clear, it won’t end well for anyone. Everything will spiral out of control. I don’t need to say much more, but that’s the reality.”
Trump’s warning is vague, but some observers interpret his remarks as a veiled threat of U.S. military intervention in Gaza. Although the U.S. has provided significant military aid to Israel, outgoing President Joe Biden refused to support direct U.S. military involvement in Gaza.
When asked during the press conference to clarify his warning, Trump replied, “Do I need to explain this to you?”
Hamas has responded to Trump’s threat. Speaking to reporters from Algeria, senior Hamas leader Osama Hamdan said, “I believe the President of the United States should use more refined and diplomatic language.” He also blamed Israel for the failure to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Trump issued this warning at a time when fresh talks on a Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange are underway, led by the Biden administration. The incoming President, Trump, is being regularly briefed on the progress of these discussions.
Trump has nominated Steve Witkoff as a special envoy to the Middle East. Witkoff is optimistic about reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas. He also mentioned that progress has been made in the negotiations.
Witkoff stated, “This is the President; it’s his leadership that has brought momentum to these talks. So, I’m hopeful this agreement will be realized, and we will be able to save some lives.”
According to a Reuters report, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been in discussions with Israel and the United States regarding participation in a post-war temporary government in Gaza. This administration will oversee Gaza until the Palestinian Authority fully assumes responsibility, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The behind-the-scenes discussions involve the possibility that, after the withdrawal of Israeli forces, the UAE and the U.S., along with other countries, could temporarily manage Gaza’s government, security, and reconstruction. They would continue these responsibilities until the Palestinian Authority takes over. Several foreign diplomats and Western officials have confirmed this to Reuters.
The UAE is a close security partner of the United States. Although most Arab countries do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, the UAE does. Diplomatic sources and officials noted that this gives the UAE a position to influence the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Amid ceasefire negotiations, Israeli forces have intensified their attacks on Gaza. Since early Wednesday morning, Israeli airstrikes have killed 21 Palestinians within a few hours. In one attack at the Al-Shati refugee camp, all five members of a family were killed.
Gaza’s Health Ministry also reported that in the previous 24 hours, the bodies of 51 individuals killed in Israeli attacks were brought to hospitals. During the same period, 78 others were injured. Over the past 15 months, Israeli military attacks in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 45,936 Palestinians and injuries to 109,274 people.
