US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (out of frame) at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo / Jim Watson, AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (out of frame) at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo / Jim Watson, AFP
United States President Donald Trump warned Iran of fresh strikes and said Hamas would have “hell to pay” if it fails to disarm in Gaza, as he presented a united front with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today.
Speaking at a news conference with Netanyahu in Florida, Trump threatenedto “eradicate” any attempt by Tehran to rebuild its nuclear programme or ballistic missile arsenal following US and Israeli strikes mid-year.
Trump also downplayed reports of tensions with Netanyahu over the second stage of the fragile Gaza ceasefire, saying Israel had “lived up” to its commitments and that the onus was on Palestinian militant group Hamas.
“If they don’t disarm as they agreed to do, then there will be hell to pay for them,” Trump told reporters at his lavish Mar-a-Lago resort. “They have to disarm in a fairly short period of time.”
Hamas’ armed wing reiterated earlier today that it would not surrender its weapons.
A top political adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader said any aggression against his country would be met with an “immediate harsh response”.
“Iran’s #Missile_Capability and defence are not containable or permission-based. Any aggression will face an immediate #Harsh_Response beyond its planners’ imagination,” Ali Shamkhani wrote on X.
‘Productive’ meeting
Netanyahu said his meeting with Trump had been “very productive” and announced that Israel was awarding the US leader its highest civilian honour – the first time it has gone to a non-Israeli citizen.
Trump, the self-proclaimed “President of peace”, has been keen to move on to the next phase of the Gaza truce, which would involve a Palestinian technocratic government being installed and the deployment of an international stabilisation force.
While some White House officials fear Netanyahu is slow-walking the process, Trump said he had “very little difference” with the Prime Minister and was “not concerned about anything that Israel’s doing”.
During their fifth meeting in the US since Trump’s return to power this year, Netanyahu also appeared to have steered the US leader toward focusing on Israel’s concerns about Iran.
Israeli officials and media have expressed concern in recent months that Iran is rebuilding its ballistic missile arsenal after it came under attack during the 12-day war with Israel in June.
Trump said Iran “may be behaving badly” and was looking at new nuclear sites to replace those targeted by US strikes during the same conflict, as well as restoring its missiles.
US President Donald Trump looks on as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (out of frame) speaks to journalists during a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida. Photo / Jim Watson, AFP
“I hope they’re not trying to build up again because if they are, we’re going have no choice but very quickly to eradicate that build-up,” Trump said, adding that the US response “may be more powerful than the last time”.
Trump also said he believed Iran was still interested in a deal with Washington on its nuclear and missile programmes. Tehran denies that it is seeking nuclear weapons.
Focus on Gaza
Trump and Netanyahu’s talks also focused on other regional tension points, including Syria and the Hezbollah movement in Lebanon.
Trump said he hoped Netanyahu could “get along” with Syria’s new President, Ahmed al-Sharaa, despite a series of Israeli strikes along their border.
Netanyahu’s visit caps a frantic few days of international diplomacy in Palm Beach, where Trump hosted Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday for talks on ending Russia’s invasion.
The Gaza ceasefire in October is one of the major achievements of Trump’s first year back in power, and Washington and regional mediators have hoped to keep their foot on the gas.
The Axios news site said Trump seeks to make announcements as soon as January on an interim government and an international force.
Trump gave few details beyond saying that he hoped “reconstruction” could begin soon in the Palestinian territory, which was devastated by Israeli attacks in response to Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023.
However, the disarmament of Hamas continued to be a sticking point, with its armed wing again saying it would not surrender its arms.
“Our people are defending themselves and will not give up their weapons as long as the occupation remains,” the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades said in a video message.
