
The US president has criticized the Israeli prime minister on Gaza peace talks, according to the outlet’s sources
US President Donald Trump has harshly rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his reaction to Hamas’ statement concerning the Gaza peace plan, Axios has reported, citing sources.
Hamas has agreed to free its hostages under a US proposal, the Palestinian militant group confirmed on Friday. It did not mention plans to disarm, but later on Sunday, Al Arabiya sources in the movement said the group was preparing to do so.
Trump reportedly called Netanyahu on Friday to discuss the Hamas move, which he saw as good news. The Israeli leader felt differently, telling the US president “this is nothing to celebrate, and that it doesn’t mean anything,” a US official told Axios.
”I don’t know why you’re always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it,” Trump reportedly replied.
On Saturday, Netanyahu’s aides stressed that the PM and the US president were “totally aligned.” The US official told Axios however, that the dynamic in Friday’s call was “contentious,” and that Trump was “annoyed.”
The US President has called on Israel to stop launching strikes in Gaza, and proposed that Hamas release all remaining hostages within 72 hours of Israel suspending military operations and withdrawing its troops “to the agreed-upon line.”
West Jerusalem has agreed to the prisoner swap but has not officially addressed Trump’s call for Israel to halt its strikes in the territory.
Indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas are set to start in Egypt on Monday.