President Trump issues warning to Hamas
WASHINGTON (NBC, KYMA) - "Hell to pay." That what President Donald Trump says will happen if Hamas does not disarm as part of Phase Two of the president's peace plan in Gaza.
President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss ways to push the peace plan along.
The plan, implemented in October, has stalled and Trump is anxious to get it going again, but the two men also discussed Iran and rumors that country was rebuilding its arsenal.
Trump hosted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-A-Lago estate, with the U.S. hoping to move forward with the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, but the president says progress largely hinges on Hamas' disarmament.
"But if they don't disarm as as they agreed to do, they agreed to it, and then they'll be hell to pay for them," the president expressed.
In effect since October, a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, but the president downplayed the lack of progress and Israel's actions as its military killed hundreds of Palestinians since the ceasefire.
Details of Monday's talks remained elusive.
"Well, we have had a discussion, big discussion, for a long time on the West Bank. And I wouldn't say we agree on the West Bank 100% but we will come to a conclusion on West Bank," Trump shared.
With high praise, the two showcased their public support for one another. This comes as the prime minister is gearing up to run for reelection in 2026.
"I'll say it again and again and again. We've never had a friend like President Trump in the White House. It's not even close," Netanyahu spoke.
"Look, he's a wartime Prime Minister. He's done a phenomenal job," Trump added.
Trump says he would support an Israeli attack against Iran if Iran attempts to boost its ballistic missile reserves, or restore its nuclear program.
"We'll knock them down. We'll knock the hell out of them. But hopefully that's not happening. I heard Iran wants to make a deal," Trump declared.
The president added if Iran is building up weapons, they're not using the sites the U.S. forces "obliterated" during airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities back in June.
Trump clearly focusing on high stakes foreign policy conflicts, holding key meetings this week.
He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida Sunday, and Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, also attempting to cement a peace deal there.
