President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the U.S. would "take over the Gaza Strip" and "own it," arguing that Palestinians should permanently resettle elsewhere. Speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said Gaza should not be rebuilt but instead redeveloped into an economic hub.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticized Hamas for the disorderly and dangerous conditions surrounding the recent release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi announced his resignation on Tuesday, citing the military’s inability to anticipate the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. His resignation, effective March 6, 2025, comes alongside the intended resignation of Major General Yaron Finkelman, head of the IDF Southern Command.
President Donald Trump signed several pro-Israel executive orders immediately after his inauguration, fulfilling promises to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations. These actions were part of a larger series of orders aimed at reshaping U.S. foreign and domestic policy. Several of the Israel-related actions closely followed recommendations outlined in The Agenda: What Trump Should Do in His First 100 Days.
In an interview on MSNBC’s The Last Word Thursday, President Joe Biden stated he began urging Israeli leaders to minimize civilian casualties in their response to Hamas shortly after the October 7 terrorist attacks. Biden recounted discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to Israel about 10 days after the attacks.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a "last-minute crisis" with Hamas is holding up the ceasefire agreement that would release hostages.
Ayman Mohyeldin of MSNBC has raised concerns over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s motivations in securing a recent ceasefire and hostage release agreement. On the network’s “Alex Wagner Tonight,” Mohyeldin suggested that Netanyahu may have delayed the deal intentionally, positioning it for strategic leverage with the Trump administration, rather than aiding U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in building political momentum during an election year.