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Donald Trump's warning to Hamas about hostage release has sparked global interest on its possible repercussions as he is set to resume office in January next year.
US President-elect Donald Trump.
New Delhi,UPDATED: Nov 8, 2024 11:05 IST
US President-elect Donald Trump, a few months ago at the Republican Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee, warned Hamas of returning the hostages till he assumed office as he withstood the October 7 attack against Israel. With Trump now poised to take office, all eyes are on Hamas and its response to the threat. After winning the US elections, Trump received a congratulatory call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the first world leaders to reach out, signalling the potential for strengthening ties between the two allies.
With Trump set to return to office, the former CIA director and US defence secretary Leon Panetta has predicted that, in reference to the Middle East, the 78-year-old leader could give a "blank check" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, paving the way for an all-out war between Israel and Iran. “With regards to the Middle East, I think he’s basically going to give Netanyahu a blank check,” Panetta was quoted as saying by The Guardian in its report.
“‘Whatever you do, whatever you want to do, whoever you want to go after, you have my blessing.’ I mean, he basically said that before the election,” Panetta claimed.
“We want our hostages back, and they better be back before I assume office, or you will be paying a very big price,” said Trump, who won the presidential election this week and will assume office for the second time in January next year.
Trump has given Hamas until inauguration day to return the hostages.
Strongest message to date from the United States of America has been delivered. pic.twitter.com/iN6v1bZvvc — The Mossad: Satirical and Awesome (@TheMossadIL) November 7, 2024
Four Americans are among the hostages still believed to be held by Hamas. Over 250 people were taken from Israeli communities and a music festival in the October 7 attack last year, when Hamas crossed into Israel from Gaza in a surprise assault.
During his campaigning for the US polls, Trump, who often called himself the "best friend that Israel has ever had," placed blame for the Middle East crisis squarely on the Joe Biden administration. Trump argued that his opponent's policies had destabilised the region, pledging that his leadership would restore security and strengthen US-Israel relations.
The majority of Israelis consider Trump to be a better option for Israel's interests than Vice President Kamala Harris. Many believe Trump will adopt a more lenient stance toward Israel compared to the Biden administration, which has widely supported Tel Aviv’s military efforts in Gaza but has also voiced concerns about the rising civilian death toll.
In the past, Trump has emphasised his desire to “end wars, not start them,” yet he has not outlined a clear vision for concluding Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, nor his approach to Iran. Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli consul general in New York, suggested that Trump’s administration may offer Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a temporary reprieve from pressure to address the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the New York Times reported.
This pause, Pinkas noted, could last several months, potentially allowing Netanyahu to pursue his immediate security goals without external demands for a long-term resolution.
With Trump back at the hem, it needs to be seen whether he will give USD 15 billion to Israel as the military aid package, which was signed by President Joe Biden in April this year, or a "blank check" to Netanyahu's government.
Published By:
Akhilesh Nagari
Published On:
Nov 8, 2024
