Trump: Israel's decision on Gaza is "tough," war or truce is good for it

It is up to Israel to decide whether to resume the war in Gaza or continue in the second round of talks with Hamas to free more hostages, U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday.

Asked by Brian Kilmeade on Fox News whether he was "for it either way," Trump replied, "I am."

Hamas is "so violent and ruthless," the president continued, "it's a decision that has to be made; it's a tough decision." One group [of hostages] arrived in such bad shape that they looked like [they had come] out of a concentration camp in Germany," Trump said in reference to Eli Sharabi, Or Levy and Ohad Ben Ami, the three Israeli men who were released from captivity in Gaza on February 8 in an emaciated and frail state.

Trump went on to say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "is not really torn. I mean, you know what his position is, and he'd like to go in, and he's very angry, and he should be. If he's not angry, there's something wrong with him, frankly. He's very angry; he's a very angry man because of what happened, especially what happened yesterday with these children..., they were babies," the president said, referring to the return of the bodies of the children Ariel and Kfir Bibas who were kidnapped in Gaza on October 7, 2023.

"It looked like [Gazans] were celebrating as they brought the bodies back. Seeing it is not even believable. ... When you see what's going on ... It's so barbaric. You wouldn't think that would happen in the modern era, but it did," Trump added.

The president was also asked about his resettlement plan for Palestinians from Gaza to places like Egypt and Jordan, to which he replied that he is not going to force the issue.

"Well, we pay Jordan and Egypt billions of dollars a year and I was a little surprised that they [rejected the proposal], but they did. And I'll tell you the way to do it is my plan. I think it's the plan that actually works," Trump said.

"But I'm not going to force it," he added.

"I'm just going to sit down and recommend it, and then the United States would own the placeand there would be no Hamas, and they would develop and then you'd start over with a clean plate," the president said.

Trump appeared to raise some doubts about his plan, stating that "it depends on what happens in the coming times. ... The question is whether you can wipe out all of [Hamas], you know, they're so intermingled among people and it's certainly not an easy thing to do.

"But I liked my plan; I thought my plan was good. You get them out, you move them out, you build a beautiful community and a permanent community, and then you take the Gaza Strip," Trump said. "We'll see what happens. It's a great location. I don't know why Israel gave it up [in the 2005 withdrawal]. ... It's one of the bad real estate deals."

On Tuesday, Israel's Channel 12 News reported that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer will lead negotiations for the second phase of the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Mossad chief David Barnea led the previous rounds. Israeli media reported earlier this month that Barnea would continue to work with Qatari and Egyptian mediators under Dermer's direction.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar told reporters Tuesday that Jerusalem had decided to begin talks on phase 2 of the agreement.

Gaza terrorists continue to hold 63 hostages, of whom 36 have been confirmed dead.