US President Donald Trump responded to the prime minister's decision to occupy the Gaza Strip at a White House Press conference on Tuesday.
Trump was asked if he would support Israel reoccupying all of Gaza. “Well, I don’t know what the suggestion is,” he replied. “I know that we are right there now, trying to get people fed."
Trump continued, stating that “the United States gave 60 million dollars fairly recently to supply food for the people of Gaza, who are obviously not doing very well.”
The US president added that he knows Israel and the Arab states are going to help the US with the distribution of the aid and money.
“As far as the rest of it, I really can’t say,” Trump said, referring to plans to take over Gaza. “That’s going to be really up to Israel.”
He also reacted to the video published by Hamas showing emaciated hostage Evyatar David.
When asked by a reporter if he saw the video of David being forced to dig his own grave in a tunnel, Trump responded, “Yeah, I have.”
“I think it’s horrible. And I hope a lot of people do get to see it as bad as it is, because I think it's a horrible thing.”
Netanyahu decides on full occupation of Gaza
On Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reached a decision for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip, including operations in areas where hostages are held, a source in the Prime Minister's Office told The Jerusalem Post.
Additionally, on Tuesday morning, an Israeli official told the Post that Netanyahu will convene an extensive meeting on Gaza and a hostage deal, noting that "the prime minister is considering all available options regarding the next steps."
The Israeli official added that Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff returned to the US to meet with the president and "a broad consensus that a deal must include all the hostages."