A former Israeli hostage negotiator who once acted as a channel to Hamas said Israel’s renewed strikes on Gaza show US President Donald Trump’s failure to live up to his promise to end the war there.
Trump is “doing the opposite,” Gershon Baskin said.
“The renewal of the war is a failure of Trump to end the war as he promised,” Baskin said. “Trump could end the war and force the deal that will bring the hostages home and end the war.”
During presidential campaigns, Trump repeatedly promised to end the war in Gaza once he assumed office.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier that Israel notified the Trump administration ahead of its strikes in Gaza. Hamas has said that Israel’s coordination with the United States confirms Washington’s “complicity in the war.”
For the remaining living hostages in Gaza, the resumption of the war is “a death sentence,” Baskin said.
Of the 58 hostages kidnapped on October 7, fewer than half are believed to be alive.
Baskin added that the renewed war in Gaza ensures Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political survival, and enabled him to bring back far-right politician Itamar Ben Gvir into his coalition.
