After rumours of a rift between the US president and the Israeli PM, Donald Trump has clarified that there was no disagreement with Benjamin Netanyahu over Hamas’s response to his Gaza peace plan.
The clarification followed a foreign media report suggesting a tense phone exchange between the two leaders.
According to the report, shortly after Hamas partially welcomed Trump’s 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, the president called Netanyahu, viewing it as a positive development. Netanyahu, however, reportedly dismissed the response as insignificant, prompting Trump to retort, “I don’t know why you’re always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it.”
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‘Not true’: Trump clears the air
In an exchange with a reporter on Monday at the Oval Office, Trump dismissed the report, calling it “not true.” He insisted Netanyahu had been positive about the plan. “No, it’s NOT true… he’s been positive,” and added, “Israel’s been GREAT,” he said.
‘Every nation is working on this deal’
The American president went on to emphasise the broad international support his proposal has received. “He’s been very positive on the deal. Everybody is I think every nation is,” Trump stated.
“We have just about every nation working on this deal and trying to get it done. Something that, you could say 3,000 years, if you look at it certain ways, or you could say centuries. But this is a deal that, increasingly, everyone just came together. They all came together. No issue has been great, They’ve all been good,” he added.
Conditions remain for Hamas
When asked about red lines regarding Hamas disarming, Trump hinted at conditions that could stall the agreement. “If certain things aren’t met, we’re not going to do it. But I think we’re doing very well and I think Hamas has been uh agreeing to things that uh are very important,” he told reporters.
What ‘not true’ media report suggested?
The foreign media report surfacing on social media suggested that Trump had urged Netanyahu to view the developments positively after Hamas indicated it was prepared to release hostages under his plan. The report cited two American officials familiar with the call, with one quoted as saying, “Bibi told Trump this is nothing to celebrate, and that it doesn’t mean anything.”
However, Trump has now dismissed any such interactions with Netanyahu, reframing them as cordial and constructive.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan
Last week, Trump unveiled a 20-point plan aimed at securing the release of hostages and halting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. The plan came with a stern warning, as Trump posted on social media that an agreement must be reached within days or Hamas would face “all HELL.”
On Friday, Hamas announced its readiness to release all hostages in exchange for 250 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and 1,700 Gaza residents detained during the conflict. Trump welcomed the response, declaring the group was “ready for a lasting PEACE.”
