What convinced Trump to approve Israeli takeover of Gaza?

Trump was reportedly convinced to back Israeli plans to complete the takeover of the Gaza Strip after watching the Hamas video of a hostage being forced to dig his own grave.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump has decided to give his tacit support to Israeli plans to massively expand its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, including the complete takeover of the coastal enclave, two US officials said on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Trump responded to questions by reporters regarding plans under consideration by the Israeli government to complete the capture of the Gaza Strip by saying that the matter was “up to Israel.”

The Israeli security cabinet is set to deliberate Thursday on competing plans to expand the Gaza ground operation.

While ministers have called to complete the takeover of Gaza, of which 75% is already under IDF control, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has pushed an alternative plan to seize strategic areas between major population centers, further isolating Hamas.

The more expansive plan backed by the security cabinet would also include the evacuation of some one million Gazans from northern and central Gaza.

According to a report by Axios Wednesday night, which cited two anonymous US officials, Trump has resolved to back whichever plan the Israeli security cabinet decides to formally endorse.

One of the two officials added that the president was influenced by video footage released by Hamas showing an emaciated hostage, Evyatar David, being forced to dig his own grave in a terror tunnel in the Gaza Strip.

“It influenced the president, and he is going to let the Israelis do what they need to do,” one American official said.

Trump, however, does not back Israel’s annexation of parts of the Gaza Strip at this time.

According to reports by Ha’aretz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considering annexing territory in the Gaza Strip as a means to pressure Hamas and to assuage his right-wing allies.