US President Donal Trump’s “hell will break out” rant threatens Gaza’s already fragile peace deal – but that appears to suit Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s no peace agenda
Once again US President Donald Trump’s outbursts and ultimata have threatened to smash an already very fragile ceasefire in Gaza.
His real estate loudmouth diplomacy consists of over-demanding and threatening before reigning back to make progress. As one political source in the US explained today: “He is constantly shooting for the Moon in the hope of getting some stars.”
Basically demanding the near-impossible in order to gain the probable. But his crass interventions are transparent and likely impotent. He demands all Israel ’s hostages be released this weekend, otherwise “all hell is going to break out,” in response to Hamas’s postponement of the latest releases. This defies a delicate agreement that has taken many months to negotiate but also comes hot on the heels of his blundering claim Gaza can be developed and the Palestinians found a new home.
In his usual mendacious way Trump appears to be trying to wind up Hamas into breaching the ceasefire and that may suit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Qatari negotiators are apparently already complaining their Israeli counterparts are not engaging on phase two of the ceasefire.
The deadline for the end of phase one during which it was agreed 33 hostages would be released is looming as already 21 have been freed. As of Sunday, February 9, 73 of the 251 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead by the IDF.
Hamas has so far released 21 hostages, including civilians, soldiers, and five Thai nationals during the ceasefire that began on January 19. They also freed 105 civilians during a weeklong truce in late November 2023, and four hostages were released before that. Phase two is due to start in the beginning of March but already it is looking shaky, with Trump and Netanyahu doing little to steady the situation.
Protestors taking to the streets in Tel Aviv, demanding hostages be released, hope to persuade Netanyahu that politically he needs to listen to them. This mass movement has been continuous every week for the past 15 months but it has not been enough to push Netanyahu throwing all of his support into lasting peace.
Many believe Netanyahu feels the ceasefire has politically damaged him with his right-wing base support. A feeling that bodes very badly for the future of the ceasefire, if it even reaches phase two.
