In an interview with Fox News on Thursday, Trump called for a quick end to Israel’s war with Hamas and a return of the hostages, adding that Israel has to better manage its “public relations.”
“I want him (Netanyahu) to finish up and get it done quickly,” Trump said. “They are getting decimated with this publicity.”
Trump also criticised those who protested Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s speech was boycotted by dozens of Democrats who expressed dismay over the thousands of civilian deaths and the humanitarian crisis from Israel’s campaign in the Hamas-ruled Palestinian enclave of Gaza.
DEFIANT REMARKS
In defiant remarks, Netanyahu defended the military and dismissed criticism of Israel’s campaign, which has devastated Gaza and killed more than 39,000 of its residents, according to Gaza health officials.
Netanyahu praised Biden’s support for Israel.
But to cheers from Republicans, he touched on Trump’s pro-Israel record as president. He praised Trump’s decision to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a long-held goal of conservatives that infuriated Palestinians.
He also cited the Abraham Accords, landmark US-brokered agreements signed during the Trump years that normalised bilateral relations between Israel and both Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu signalled that both are looking to ease tensions that have developed since Trump left office in January 2021.
