Trump: ‘Hamas must be destroyed – the sooner the better!’

President Donald Trump says Hamas must be destroyed in order to secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages, adding that the sooner the terror group is confronted, the more likely the hostages can be brought back.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump has called for the destruction of the Hamas terror organization, in an apparent sign of support for Israel’s decision to expand its ground campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Taking to his Truth Social account on Monday morning, the president argued that the remaining 50 hostages held in Gaza can only be returned through a confrontation with Hamas resulting in the terror group’s destruction.

“We will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!!” Trump wrote.

The president added that the earlier such a confrontation takes place, the more likely Israel will be able to bring back the captives.

“The sooner this takes place, the better the chances of success will be. Remember, I was the one who negotiated and got hundreds of hostages freed and released into Israel (and America!).”

“I was the one who ended 6 wars, in just 6 months. I was the one who OBLITERATED Iran’s Nuclear facilities. Play to WIN, or don’t play at all!”

The comments come a day after the IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said that the Israeli military has approved plans for the takeover of Gaza City, as part of the expansion of the Gaza campaign okayed by the Israeli cabinet a week earlier.

Israel’s plans to expand the area within the Gaza Strip under direct IDF control – which currently amounts to over 70% of the coastal enclave – have drawn sharp criticism globally, including from the United Nations, UK, France, and Germany.

The US, however, has declined to stake out a firm position on the issue, while President Trump’s latest comments suggest possible support for the Israeli plan.