In just two days, Donald Trump will be sworn in as President of the United States. In a special interview with the American network NBC, he talked about his priorities for the first week: how he sees the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas from his point of view, what is his message to Prime Minister Netanyahu – and does he think the terrorist organization Will he honor the agreement?
The incoming president was asked by reporter Kristen Volker how confident he was that the hostages would be released. “Well, we’ll see very soon,” he said and emphasized: “It must last.” In an interview, he said that he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he “simply has to keep doing what he has to do. He has to, because it has to end. We want it to end, so we have to keep doing what needs to be done.”
We will emphasize that Trump’s words come against the background of the violation of the agreement by Hamas, who promised to the mediators that he would pass on the names of the abductees who will be released today – by 16:00 yesterday. In contrast to the terrorist organization, Israel actually passed on to the mediators the names of the terrorists to be released, as agreed.
The president-elect clarified that he will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu “relatively soon”, but did not provide any further details about this. Later, Trump also addressed the question: how his administration will ensure that the ceasefire lasts. “An honor,” he replied. “The United States needs to get respect again – and it needs to get respect fast. Respect is the main word I use. If they respect us, it will last. If they don’t respect us – the gates of hell will open.”
The incoming president also referred to the deal signed in Doha yesterday. In an interview he conducted with presenter Dan Bongino, he said: “Honestly, it’s better that it be done before I take the oath of office. We shook hands and signed documents – so it’s better that it be done.” During the interview, Trump explained that the involvement of the incoming administration changed the course of the negotiations and created the momentum to complete the agreement in Doha:
“If we weren’t involved in this deal – this deal wouldn’t have happened, and the abductees probably wouldn’t have seen the light of day again. But they certainly wouldn’t have been released for a long time,” he said. Trump also lashed out at outgoing President Joe Biden several times, claiming that “he didn’t do anything.”