Donald Trump
, the ex-president of the United States and currently a Republican candidate for the upcoming November elections, has expressed concern over Israel’s diminishing global backing amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Trump acknowledged the severity of the
Hamas
attack on October 7, which resulted in over a thousand fatalities and more than two hundred captives.
However, he emphasizes that it’s crucial for Israel to conclude the warfare.
Since the conflict’s inception nearly six months ago, the Gaza toll has exceeded 32,000 Palestinian lives due to Israeli attacks. Trump, in a discussion with Israel Hayom, a right-wing publication, urged, “You have to finish up your war. You have to finish it up, you got to get it done.” His remarks emerged following the UN Security Council’s vote favoring an immediate cessation of hostilities, a resolution the US did not veto, marking a significant shift.
The continuation of Israeli operations hinges on the complete dismantlement of Hamas and the liberation of hostages, with plans to advance towards Rafah in southern Gaza. This strategy, however, is met with apprehension in the United States due to the potential loss of international rapport, as Trump highlighted, “Israel has to be very careful, because you’re losing a lot of the world, you’re losing a lot of support.”
Trump has often proclaimed his allegiance to Israel, referencing his decisions like relocating the US Embassy to Jerusalem and fostering the 2020 Abraham Accords, which led to normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. Yet, these actions have faced persistent Palestinian opposition.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces engaged in combat with Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, showing no signs of halting operations despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an “immediate ceasefire” during Ramadan aimed at achieving a prolonged peace.
The resolution, passed on Monday due to the United States’ abstention, calls for an “immediate ceasefire” during the sacred month of Ramadan and seeks a sustained peace. Additionally, it urges the release of hostages taken by Hamas and other groups in the significant attacks on October 7, without making the ceasefire contingent on their release.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has been vocal in advocating for the enforcement of the resolution, stating on the X social media platform, “Failure would be unforgivable.” Israel, however, expressed strong discontent with the US abstention, which effectively allowed the resolution to be passed unanimously by the other 14 members of the Security Council.
This resolution represents the first call by the UN Security Council for a cessation of hostilities since the outbreak of the
Gaza war
. While the United States clarified that its abstention should not be interpreted as a policy shift, it has adopted a firmer stance towards Israel in the recent weeks.
(With inputs from agencies)