Hamas announced on 10/02/25, that it was suspending the release of hostages scheduled for Saturday, February 15th, citing Israeli violations and actions, including the shooting of Palestinians and blocking aid trucks. This suspension follows ongoing issues that Hamas claims reflect Israeli intransigence.
The core issue, however, is Israel’s delays in addressing the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which involves negotiations over Gaza’s governance. Israel has shown reluctance to engage in these talks. This situation is further complicated by Donald Trump’s recent statements about displacing Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, as well as a potential U.S. occupation of Gaza, which Netanyahu has praised as “one of the best ideas from the White House.” Hamas’s decision also follows Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump, where they discussed a plan to end the war by requiring Hamas to leave Gaza (Axios, 6/2/25).
In a recent Fox News interview, Trump doubled down on his position, stating that Palestinians would have no right of return if displaced. He argued that displaced Palestinians would live in “much better housing,” dismissing the idea of them returning to Gaza, saying, “No, they wouldn’t, because they’re going to have much better housing… it’s not habitable.” He framed the plan as a “real estate development for the future,” promising that little money would be spent on it (Fox News, 8/2/25).
Trump’s rhetoric aligns with Israel’s actions on the ground, emboldening Netanyahu to collapse the ceasefire agreement and place the blame squarely on Palestinians. This approach also provides Netanyahu with moral cover, especially in light of backlash from the families of Israeli hostages. Trump has now demanded that “all” hostages be released by Saturday, threatening that “all bets are off” if this demand is not met: “If they are not released by 12 o’clock on Saturday, I say cancel it [the ceasefire] and all bets are off… all hell will break loose” (Axios, 11/2/25).
By pushing for the immediate release of all hostages, Trump removes any leverage Hamas holds, paving the way for Netanyahu to renege on any agreements without consequences.
Arab leaders, particularly those from Jordan and Egypt, are caught in a difficult position. While they express concerns over the displacement of Palestinians, Trump has made it clear that their objections carry little weight. Both Jordan and Egypt depend on U.S. financial aid, and Trump has shown willingness to use this aid as leverage. Despite these concerns, Trump insists his plan will bring stability to the region. “I can tell you, I spoke to other leaders in the Middle East and they love the idea. They say it would really bring stability,” he stated.
King Abdullah of Jordan, in particular, showed his reluctance to challenge Trump’s stance during a White House press conference. Instead of confronting Trump on his views, Abdullah deferred to Egyptian President Sisi, offering a plan to develop Gaza without displacing Palestinians. Trump, however, humiliated him, saying, “We’re going to take it. We’re going to hold it. We’re going to cherish it.”
Trump’s apparent disregard for Arab and Muslim anger, alongside his full support for Netanyahu, highlights a belief that they have little to fear from opposition. Despite the uproar, Arab leaders have failed to take meaningful action.
As of now, Jordan and Egypt have not canceled their security treaties with Israel, and no Arab country has repudiated agreements with Israel. Turkey has not abandoned its strategic understanding with Israel, nor have Sudan, the UAE, or Bahrain reversed their normalization agreements. Saudi Arabia, too, has not rejected any further normalization with Israel.
Trump and Netanyahu face no significant opposition in their plans for occupation, displacement, and genocide. Even European leaders, while condemning the plans as violations of international law, have not held either leader accountable for these actions.
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