'Someone needed to say it': Internet weighs in as Trump urges Israel to end war in Gaza and pursue peace

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: In a recent interview with an Israeli outlet, former President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Israel, urging the nation to swiftly end its military operations against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Trump, a staunch ally of Israel during his tenure, voiced concern over the diminishing international support for the Jewish state in the wake of the recent escalation in violence.

Trump's warning to Israel

Describing the October 7, 2023 terror attack by Hamas as "one of the saddest things I've ever seen," Trump also criticized Israel's response.

“These photos and shots. I mean, moving shots of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza,” the former President said while sitting down with Israel Hayom, an outlet reportedly owned by the family of the late casino magnate and GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson.

“And I said, ‘Oh, that’s a terrible portrait. It’s a very bad picture for the world,'” Trump continued. “The world is seeing this … every night, I would watch buildings pour down on people. It would say it was given by the Defense Ministry, and said whoever’s providing that — that’s a bad image.”

Trump stressed the importance of restoring normalcy for both Israel and its neighbors. “You have to finish up your war … You gotta get it done,” he said. “And I am sure you will do that. And we gotta get to peace, we can’t have this going on."

“And I will say, Israel has to be very careful because you’re losing a lot of the world, you’re losing a lot of support. You have to get on to peace, to get on to a normal life for Israel, and for everybody else," the 45th POTUS added.

Recognizing the intricacies of combating terrorism, Trump admitted that if confronted with a comparable attack on American soil, he would probably react in a similar manner.

However, he cautioned against indiscriminate actions that harm civilians, noting that such tactics erode international support and fuel criticism.

The interviewer insisted that “terrorists are hiding in those buildings” in Gaza, to which Trump responded, “Go and do what you have to do. But you don’t do that."

"And I think that’s one of the reasons that there has been a lot of kickback. If people didn’t see that — every single night, I’ve watched every single one of those. And I think Israel wanted to show that it’s tough, but sometimes you shouldn’t be doing that," he added.

During his presidency, Trump actively pursued a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, although he fell short of enjoying ultimate success.

Nevertheless, his administration achieved a breakthrough with the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states.

Trump's relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has undergone shifts, with the former President expressing disappointment in Netanyahu's response to President Biden's election victory.

Trump attributed the Hamas attack partly to Biden's perceived weakness on the global stage, contrasting it with his own leadership style.

“He can’t put two sentences together,” he said of his successor. “He can’t talk. He’s a very dumb person. He’s a dumb person. His foreign policy throughout 50 years has been horrible. If you look at people who were in other administrations with him, they saw him as a weak, ineffective president. They [Hamas] would have never done that attack if I were there.” 

The former president also addressed his views on Jewish Americans' political affiliations, suggesting that support for Democrats contradicts their religious interests.  “I think if you have to convince them, you got a problem because that should be automatic,” he told Israel Hayom. “I’m not Jewish. And yet Israel for me is very important.”

It's worth noting that Trump's daughter, Ivanka - who converted to Judaism before her wedding to Jared Kushner in 2009 - holds personal ties to the community, per the New York Post. 

Social media reactions

Following Trump's remarks, social media platforms were abuzz with reactions, with many expressing support for his call to end the conflict and pursue peace.

"That's a leader!" one posted on X.

"The real president speaks," another gushed.

"Damn Straight. Good call trump! America ain’t no one’s babysitter," someone else added.

"Someone needed to say it. How many Palestinian civilians need to be slaughtered for Israel to feel satisfied?" another chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.