Washington, D.C. – Former U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a tougher stance on Gaza, but he says he’s not sure what Israel will do next.
What’s Happening in Gaza?
Gaza is a small piece of land where many Palestinians live. Israel and Hamas, a group that controls Gaza, have been fighting for a long time. Right now, there’s a ceasefire, which means both sides agreed to stop fighting for a while.
Trump, who became president again in January, thinks the U.S. should take control of Gaza—a suggestion that has angered many people around the world.
Trump’s Strong Warning
This week, Trump demanded that Hamas release all Israeli hostages by Saturday at noon. If they didn’t, he warned that “hell will break out,” meaning things could get much worse.
But on Friday, Trump admitted that he doesn’t know what will happen when the deadline arrives.
👉 “If it was up to me, I would take a very hard stance. But I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do,” Trump told reporters.
What’s Happened Since the Fighting Started?
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killed 1,200 people, and took about 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a massive military attack on Gaza, which has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health officials.
Since then:
✅ Some Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas.
✅ Some Palestinian prisoners have been freed by Israel.
But the United Nations (UN) is very concerned about how these people were treated. Pictures show that many hostages and prisoners look very weak and unhealthy, which has shocked the world.
International Concerns & Trump’s Proposal
Trump has suggested that the U.S. should take control of Gaza and move Palestinians somewhere else. Many people, including human rights experts and the UN, say this is a dangerous idea and call it “ethnic cleansing”—which means forcing people to leave their homes permanently.
Israel has denied accusations of war crimes or genocide, but the situation remains extremely serious, with almost everyone in Gaza losing their homes and struggling to find food.
What Happens Next?
Nobody knows exactly what will happen next. Trump says he wants Israel to take a tougher stance, but he isn’t sure what they will do. The ceasefire is still holding for now, but tensions remain very high.
Many people around the world are watching closely, hoping for peace but fearing more violence.
