At a high-stakes meeting at Mar-a-Lago, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the escalating tensions in the Middle East, with Trump issuing a stern warning to both Iran and Hamas, reported international media on Tuesday.
Trump signaled that the US is prepared to launch a “major strike” on Iran if Tehran resumes its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs. Reflecting on the massive June strikes that “obliterated” several Iranian sites, Trump cautioned that the US is tracking potential new facilities, remarking that he hopes military intervention isn’t necessary to avoid “wasting fuel” on B-2 bombers.
The leaders also focused on the stalled Gaza peace deal. Trump expressed frustration with Hamas, warning, “There will be hell to pay” if the group continues to refuse to disarm, a key condition for moving into the ceasefire’s second phase.
This phase involves the deployment of international peacekeepers, including the controversial possibility of Turkish forces.
While Trump maintained that Israel has honored the agreement, Netanyahu insisted that the remains of the final Israeli hostage must be returned before further withdrawals or the reopening of the Rafah crossing occur.
The talks underscored a strong but complex alliance.
While Trump claimed President Isaac Herzog might pardon Netanyahu of corruption charges (a claim Herzog’s office denied), Netanyahu gifted Trump the prestigious Israel Prize.
Discussions also touched on regional stability, including concerns over Hezbollah and the new Syrian administration under Ahmed al-Sharaa, as Washington pushes for a transition toward permanent governance in Gaza.
