Former President Donald Trump has once again thrust himself into the heart of the Israel-Gaza conflict, offering a series of statements that seem to pull in opposite directions.
Speaking at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump revealed details of his July meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, painting a picture of a leader torn between urging swift action and criticizing calls for peace.
"He knows what he's doing, I did encourage him to get this over with," Trump told reporters, "It has to get over with fast. ... Get your victory and get it over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop."
However, in a later event focused on tackling antisemitism, the former president took a sharp turn, lashing out at the Biden administration's calls for a ceasefire. "From the start, Harris has worked to tie Israel's hand behind its back, demanding an immediate ceasefire," Trump declared, his tone dripping with disdain. He warned that a ceasefire "would only give Hamas time to regroup and launch a new October 7 style attack."
Trump didn't stop there. He also branded pro-Palestinian supporters as "pro-Hamas thugs" and "jihad sympathizers." His threat was clear: if he becomes president again, he'll arrest and deport them from the U.S.
As Trump stirs the pot with his conflicting statements, the Middle East teeters on the edge of a wider conflict. Recent assassinations of key Hamas and Hezbollah figures have ratcheted up tensions, with threats of retaliation against Israel echoing across the region.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts continue in the background. Egypt, the United States, and Qatar are gearing up for a new round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations this week. These talks come in the wake of Biden's three-phase ceasefire proposal laid out on May 31, though repeated obstacles have hindered progress.
* Reuters contributed to this article.
