US President Donald Trump has largely backed Israel’s plans to attack and occupy Gaza City, despite international criticism over the humanitarian disaster unfolding in the region. In a brief phone interview with Axios on Monday, Trump said he didn’t believe Hamas would release Israeli hostages unless the situation changed.
Trump stated that Israel had to decide what to do next and whether to allow Hamas to remain in Gaza, but he believed they couldn’t stay there. He also emphasized the need for more military pressure on Hamas, aligning with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s argument.
The planned operation has faced significant international backlash, but Trump chose not to intervene, allowing Israel to proceed as it sees fit. The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to approve a plan to expand the war on Thursday, and Trump has decided not to object.
However, in a separate development, White House envoy Steve Witkoff discussed plans with Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al-Thani for a comprehensive deal to end the war and free all hostages. A senior Hamas delegation met with Egyptian intelligence officials in Cairo on Monday for talks on resuming negotiations over a Gaza ceasefire.
The crisis in negotiations comes as the humanitarian situation grows increasingly catastrophic, with more reports of Palestinians dying of starvation. Trump has signaled support for Netanyahu’s plan to launch a new military operation to occupy the entire Gaza Strip.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/08/11/trump-israel-offensive-gaza-city-hamas