WASHINGTON – Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Thursday he told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during their last meeting in July to quickly end Israel’s war in Gaza, but the former president also criticized ceasefire demands.
“He knows what he’s doing, I did encourage him to get this over with”, Trump told reporters at a press conference on Thursday. “It has to get over with fast. …Get your victory and get it over with. It has to stop, the killing has to stop”.
Trump was referring to his meeting with Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago residence in late July when Netanyahu visited the united States. He also met President Joe Biden and Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during his trip.
There has been an increased risk of a broader war in the Middle East after the recent killings of Palestinian Islamist group Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran and Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Both drew threats of retaliation against Israel.
In an event later on Thursday about tackling antisemitism, Trump criticized Biden and Harris’ months-long calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“From the start, Harris has worked to tie Israel’s hand behind its back, demanding an immediate ceasefire, always demanding ceasefire”. Trump said, adding it “would only give Harris time to regroup and launch a new October 7 style attack”.
Trump added: “I will give Israel the support that it needs to win but I do want them to win fast”.
Netanyahu’s office and Trump both separately denied on Thursday an Axios report that said they had spoken the previous day about Gaza ceasefire and hostage release talks.
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