Trump says there may be fewer than 20 living hostages, calls Gaza situation "very nasty, horrible thing" @Bsamuels0 https://t.co/uu6EGe8KNM https://t.co/8vlEXyx060
Trump says there may be fewer than 20 living hostages, calls Gaza situation "very nasty, horrible thing" @Bsamuels0 https://t.co/uu6EGe8cYe https://t.co/sk0RuCQYoM
Trump on the Israeli hostage crisis: “I’m the one that got the hostages out. I got them out, all of them… “And now we’re left with probably a little bit less than 20, because I think one or two are gone.” “It’s a nasty situation, horrible thing.” https://t.co/7gfC0irNTD
Amid ongoing tensions in Gaza, Israeli political and military leaders are advocating for a shift in strategy to address the hostage crisis and military operations. Benny Gantz, a rival of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has proposed forming a six-month unity coalition government focused on securing a hostage agreement and advancing a draft bill. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) top brass, including Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, have urged the Netanyahu government to leverage its position over Hamas to negotiate a partial agreement, allowing the army to regroup and avoid heavy casualties and risks to hostages during a potential Gaza city occupation. Internal disagreements between Netanyahu and military leadership have intensified, with calls for a ceasefire gaining traction within the IDF. Former U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the crisis, stating he had previously secured the release of hostages and estimating fewer than 20 remain alive, describing the situation in Gaza as "very nasty" and "horrible." Trump also suggested that a swift IDF military intervention could improve hostage safety. Meanwhile, Germany's embargo on arms is reported to be complicating Israel's plans for Gaza, further complicating the military's operational options.