Pressure Mounts on Israel to Extend Ceasefire, While Trump Reaffirms Plan to Take Over Gaza

Following the ceasefire in Gaza, efforts are being made to pressure Israel into extending it further. Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance on taking control of Gaza. His remarks have angered several Middle Eastern nations, including some long-time U.S. allies. Despite the backlash, Trump remains firm on his position.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has further fueled the situation by expressing his full commitment to implementing Trump’s plan. Netanyahu emphasized that the execution of this plan would not be carried out by the U.S. military but by Israel itself.

Netanyahu’s Meeting with Trump

Netanyahu recently met with Trump in the U.S. and is now expected to hold a security cabinet meeting upon his return to Israel. Meanwhile, for the next phase of the ceasefire, he sent a delegation to Qatar, though it did not include high-ranking officials.

What Did Trump Say?

On Sunday, Trump declared, “I am fully committed to taking control of Gaza. I want to acquire it. We want to ensure that Hamas never returns to Gaza. There will be nothing left for them to come back to. A lot more needs to be destroyed here.”

Trump also stated that after discussions with Arab nations, they would eventually agree to resettle Palestinians elsewhere. “They do not actually want to return to Gaza; they only say so because they have no other option. If given a choice, they would never want to go back,” he asserted.

Referring to the released hostages, Trump compared their condition to Holocaust survivors, stating, “Seeing them makes it extremely difficult to remain patient. Their condition is terrible. I cannot delay fulfilling my promise any longer.”

Israel has supported Trump’s idea, while Egypt has called for an Arab summit on February 27 to discuss his proposal.

Backlash from Arab Nations

Trump’s remarks during his meeting with Netanyahu at the White House last week have provoked anger in the Arab world, including among key U.S. allies such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II have both rejected Trump’s call for resettling Gaza’s 1.8 million Palestinians elsewhere and for the U.S. to take ownership of the territory. However, Trump claims that they will eventually accept his proposal.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement confirming that, following high-level discussions among Arab nations, Cairo will host an Arab League summit, which will include Palestine. The summit was requested to address the “new and dangerous developments” in the Palestinian issue.