Also, Russia released an American prisoner in a deal with Trump. Here’s the latest at the end of Tuesday.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said today that Israeli troops would resume “intense fighting” in Gaza, ending a cease-fire there, if Hamas did not release hostages by noon on Saturday. President Trump backed the same deadline last night and again today: If Hamas doesn’t comply, Trump said, “all hell is going to break out.”
Netanyahu left some room for negotiations, and analysts told us that the dispute could possibly be resolved this week. However, the public threats underscored an emerging reality: The future of the cease-fire in Gaza appears to be fragile, and the future of Gaza itself remains unclear.
Trump stressed again today that he envisions the U.S. taking over Gaza and expelling roughly 1.9 million Palestinians to nearby countries, like Jordan and Egypt. Sitting beside King Abdullah II of Jordan in the Oval Office, Trump said: “We will have Gaza. It’s a war-torn area. We’re going to take it. We’re going to hold it. We’re going to cherish it.”
Jordan flatly rejected Trump’s idea when he first proposed it, as did Egypt and many other countries. But today’s remarks put new pressure on Abdullah: He relies heavily on American aid, which Trump threatened to withhold if the king did not go along with his plan. At the same time, the king’s rule might depend on him digging in against Trump.
In related news, the Palestinian Authority said it would stop paying stipends to families of Palestinian prisoners involved in attacks on Israel. Analysts saw the move as an overture to Trump.
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
