Trump hopes for second phase of Gaza ceasefire ‘soon’

Donald Trump said he hoped to achieve the second phase of his Gaza peace plan “very soon” and warned Hamas that it would “pay a heavy price” if it did not disarm soon.

The US president made the comments as he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday for talks over his 20-point peace plan that calls for the militant group to disarm.

Trump said at a press conference after his meeting with Netanyahu that despite the continued attacks by Israeli forces in Gaza, Israel had “100 percent fulfilled its plan.”

The U.S. president also said the U.S. could support another major strike against Iran if it resumes rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs.

In response to Trump’s threat, Ali Shamkhani, a senior political adviser to Iran’s supreme leader, said on the 1st that any act of aggression against Iran would be met with an “immediate and severe response.”

Asked how quickly Hamas and Israel should move to the second phase of the peace plan, Trump said: “The sooner we do it, the better. But we have to disarm.”

Referring to Hamas, he said: “If they do not disarm as they agreed, then they will pay a heavy price.

“They have to be disarmed in a fairly short period of time.”

Trump also said that reconstruction work in Gaza “will begin very soon.”

this Gaza peace plan Effective in October. In the second phase, a technocratic government will be installed in the devastated areas, Hamas will disarm and Israeli troops will withdraw. Gaza’s reconstruction will then begin.

But critics say Netanyahu may seek to delay the plan and instead push for Hamas to disarm before Israeli troops withdraw.

The Israeli prime minister has been accused of being unwilling to seriously discuss the political future of the Palestinians.

Hamas officials say comprehensive disarmament should go hand-in-hand with the process of establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Asked if he was concerned that Israel was not moving fast enough on the second phase of the plan, Trump said Israel “delivered on the plan.”

“I don’t care about anything Israel is doing, I care about what others are doing or may not be doing,” he added.

At least 414 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since the ceasefire came into effect, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

The Israeli military, which controls more than half of Gaza, said it fired only in response to ceasefire violations. It accuses Hamas of killing three Israeli soldiers during the same period.

Trump also warned at the press conference that the United States would launch further attacks against Iran if it was found to be using different locations to develop nuclear weapons.

June, Trump claims US air and missile strikes ‘destroyed’ Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran denies seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

“I hope they won’t try to accumulate anymore because if they do we will have no choice but to eliminate that accumulation,” he said.

Trump said he “keeps reading” that the country is using “possibly different sites” than the summer goals.

Iran, which launched a 12-day war with Israel in June, denounced the reports on Monday as a “psychological operation” against Tehran.

It said it was fully prepared to defend itself and warned that a new round of aggression would “bring more serious consequences” to Israel.

The talks between Trump and Netanyahu also focused on other regional tensions, including in Syria and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was eager to secure peaceful borders with Syria, and Trump said he hoped Israel could get along with President Ahmed Sala, who came to power last year after longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad was deposed.

Israel has been suspicious of the new leader, who was once a member of Al Qaeda. Damascus government building bombed July.

“Well, I hope he (Netanyahu) can get along with Syria because the new president of Syria is working very hard to do a good job,” Trump said.

“He is. I know he’s a strong man. And, you know, you’re not going to let a choir boy lead Syria.”

Trump signed an executive order in June end U.S. sanctions against Syria.