Former President Donald Trump has claimed that Hamas is unable to meet the terms of a cease-fire proposal to release 40 hostages, questioning the number of hostages still alive and asserting that many have been killed. This statement comes following a phone call between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussing ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Trump also criticized Biden for what he perceives as a lack of leadership in supporting Israel, suggesting that the conflict would not have occurred if he were still in office.
The status of the hostages taken by Hamas in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel remains unclear, with conflicting reports on the number of hostages still alive. While Israel estimates that around 130 hostages are still in Gaza, with at least 34 confirmed dead, U.S. officials have privately suggested the death toll could be higher. Hamas has indicated that it may not be able to meet the demands of a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal, citing a lack of hostages that meet the specified criteria, including women, sick individuals, and female Israeli soldiers.
The claim that there may not be enough living hostages to meet the terms of the cease-fire deal has not been publicly addressed by U.S. or Israeli officials. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Egyptian and Qatari officials who are serving as liaisons in the cease-fire talks with Hamas. The primary focus of Blinken’s trip will be to push for a temporary cease-fire in the ongoing conflict.
The escalating rhetoric from Trump regarding Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict has become increasingly inflammatory, with Trump suggesting that the pro-Palestinian protests in the U.S. are more significant than the 2017 white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. Trump has also made comments targeting Jewish voters who support Democrats, accusing them of hating Israel. Trump’s efforts to court Jewish voters by criticizing Biden’s approach to the conflict and claiming he would handle it better, without outlining a clear strategy, come as Biden faces challenges within the Democratic voting bloc over his support for Israel.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has exposed divisions between the U.S. and Israel, with Biden expressing frustration with Netanyahu and pro-Palestinian protests causing tensions on college campuses across the country. This rift between Biden and Netanyahu has come to the fore as the conflict continues, with Trump seizing the opportunity to criticize Biden’s leadership and present himself as a stronger advocate for Israel. As the situation unfolds, the role of the U.S. in brokering a cease-fire and addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains a key focus for international observers.
