Trump ‘not confident’ Gaza ceasefire will hold, but says Hamas ‘very weakened’

Shortly after returning to the White House, where he immediately began signing a slew of executive orders aimed at overturning many of former President Joe Biden’s policies, President Donald Trump was asked about the Gaza ceasefire deal. 

“How confident are you that you can keep the ceasefire in Gaza?” the reporter asked. 

“It’s not our war. It is their war. I am not confident. But I think they’re very weakened on the other side,” Trump responded. 

Trump went on to speak of the massive level of destruction in Gaza, saying, “I looked at a picture of Gaza. Gaza is like a massive demolition site.” 

In keeping with his real estate past, Trump talked about the “fantastic things” which could be done as part of a reconstruction effort. 

"It's a phenomenal location on the sea – best weather. You know, everything's good. It's like, some beautiful things could be done with it," he said, “fantastic things.” 

During the questioning, Trump also reiterated previous statements that Hamas cannot continue to rule Gaza after the war. 

While the current ceasefire and hostage release deal contains no mechanism for removing Hamas or installing an alternative government in Gaza, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Israel will not allow the terror group to remain in Gaza, even if it means breaking the ceasefire. 

Among the executive orders signed by Trump were several that directly benefited Israel, including revoking the executive order signed a year ago by Biden imposing sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, and reimplementing sanctions against the International Criminal Court which he imposed in his first term. 

The sanctions, which Trump implemented in 2020, were a result of the court’s efforts to investigate American troops and intelligence officials for possible war crimes in Afghanistan. 

Earlier in the day, just after his inauguration ceremony, President Trump invited two freed hostages, Noa Argamani and Shoshan Haran, as well as hostage family members and the parents of slain IDF soldier and U.S. citizen Omer Neutra, to stand on stage with him during a victory speech at the Capital One hall in Washington. 

"We never stopped praying for you," Trump told the former hostages and hostage family members. 

The members of the group wore yellow scarves and held pictures of remaining hostages and joined the crowd in chanting "Bring them home." The father of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander wore a red MAGA hat along with the yellow ribbon pin. 

Trump also shook hands with each of the hostages and hostage family members before giving his victory speech. 

The hostages had been invited on stage by Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, the man whom many view as responsible for pushing the ceasefire deal over the finish line.