US President Donald Trump said on Monday he was not confident a ceasefire deal would be reached in Gaza, even as he touted his diplomacy to secure it ahead of his inauguration.
When asked by a reporter upon his return to the White House whether the two sides would maintain the ceasefire and move forward on an agreement, he said, “I’m not sure.”
“This is not our war; this is their war. But I’m not convinced,” Trump said.
However, Trump said he believed Hamas had been “weakened” in the war that began with an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. “I saw a picture of Gaza. Gaza is like a huge destruction site,” Trump said.
The property tycoon turned populist politician said Gaza could see a “brilliant” reconstruction if the plan goes ahead.
He said, “It’s a wonderful place on the ocean – the best weather. You know, everything is good. It seems, some beautiful things can be done with it.”
Israel and Hamas on Sunday began implementing a ceasefire agreement that included an exchange of hostages and prisoners.
The plan was originally outlined in May by then-President Joe Biden and advanced after unusual joint diplomacy by Biden and Trump envoys.
While emphasizing the agreement, Trump has also made it clear that he will strongly support Israel.
In one of his first acts, he revoked sanctions imposed by the Biden administration on extremist Israeli settlers in the West Bank over attacks against Palestinians.
Trump’s expression of skepticism marks a change in tone from Biden, who had tried for months to put the deal together.
“I’m confident,” Biden told reporters Sunday about the prospects for a deal once implementation begins.
Biden also downplayed the prospects that Hamas would regroup.
Trump alluded to the ceasefire in his inaugural address on Monday, calling himself a “peacemaker.” Later at a rally in an indoor stadium, Trump invited family members of hostages still in Gaza.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
