The Irish Independent's View: Donald Trump's real power play would be ending brutal war in Gaza
Mahmoud was one of 20 killed in an over night airstrike on a tent encampment.
There should indeed have been a ceasefire.
Everyone knows Hamas started the war, but Tel Aviv's indiscriminate backlash has been disproportionate. Military goals have long been achieved.
Now Mr Trump, who has declared: 'I run the country and the world', has an unrivalled opportunity to prove he's as good as his word, by demanding that the killing stops. The American president has ended the week on a high by seeing his 'Big Beautiful Bill' passed.
Were he to end this inhuman war, it would represent a significant historical achievement.
At the start of the year he was understandably derided for mooting his plan for the United States to 'take over' and rebuild Gaza as the 'Riviera of the Middle East'. He called the territory a 'demolition site' and suggesting that Palestinians would have 'no alternative' but to leave.
Rights groups said the plan to move Palestinians en masse in the midst of war amounted to a forcible transfer, and could constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Stopping the carnage would also demonstrate that the US need not rely on military might alone.
The world's remaining superpower can show the international community it can also deploy its unique soft power. By aligning 'diplomacy first' with 'America First', and working towards a regional balance, of power that relies primarily on local forces to maintain stability, a sustainable agreement could be achieved.
The US would not then be on the hook to oversee stability. There is an overwhelming moral case for pursuing long-term goals. This includes ending forced occupation and recognising the Palestinian state.
Mr Trump has put down several world leaders, by telling them they have no cards to play. The implication being he holds all the aces. This is surely time to play his hand.
Israeli Defence Forces' chief Eyal Zamir has said the army was approaching the completion of its war aims.
In Gaza, medical workers report rising acute malnutrition among children. Lack of fuel means water desalination plants are not working so there is a threat, of infants dying of thirst. Hospital incubators for struggling newborns are also turned off.
According to Unicef's James Elder, ambulances can not collect the wounded, because they have no diesel. This is apocalyptic. It is incomprehensible that anyone with the ability to bring an end to this hell on earth might choose not do so.
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The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My girl, 10, is still traumatised by Hamas hostage hell… Starmer's insane plan to recognise Palestine EMBOLDENS thugs
SIR Keir Starmer's plan to recognise Palestine as a state is "insane", the father of hostage Emily Hand has blasted. Embattled father Thomas, who said he and his young daughter will forever be traumatised by October 7, warned it will only serve to "embolden" Hamas. 6 Thomas said daughter Emily is now 'doing amazing' after her ordeal Credit: Supplied 6 Emily was reunited with her dad after 50 days in captivity Credit: Reuters 6 The youngster was snatched by Hamas while on a sleepover at her friend's house He said they constantly now live in fear of a repeat of the atrocity - and warned Britain recognising Palestine as a state is a "carrot" and "reward" for the evil terror group. Brave Thomas told The Sun: "I am shocked. Previous governments have agreed that it would not be in the best interests of peace. "It's rewarding terrorist actions. It's absolutely insane." Sir Keir last week outlined the government's route to recognising Palestine as a state last week. The PM vowed the UK would act by the end of September - unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire, allows humanitarian aid into Gaza, halts West Bank annexation plans, and commits to serious peace talks. But Donald Trump, political rivals of the Labour leader and the families of hostages are among the chorus of voices slapping down the move. Thomas, 65, added: "All the pressure is on Israel - you must do this or the UK will recognise a Palestinian state. "That's like a stick to us, but it's like a carrot to them. [They think] let's carry on with this war. "They were two days to a peace deal and then [they] came out with this statement and that peace deal went off the table. "It emboldens them. It reinforces them. It's a very shameful decision." Starmer vows UK will recognise Palestine in weeks unless Israel ends crisis – but critics blast 'reward' for Hamas Fighting back tears, Thomas insisted not enough is being done to bring back the remaining 50 hostages - 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. He believes Sir Keir's plan could throw their chances of rescue into jeopardy. And Thomas said he and daughter Emily - who spent 50 days in Hamas' clutches - fear Hamas could launch a similar attack to October 7. Emily, 10, and her dad are among countless innocents who have been left permanently scarred by the unspeakable horror they were put through that day. But despite the hell they suffered, Thomas believes his family were among the "lucky" ones. He said: "I had my eight-year-old daughter kidnapped for 50 days, the mother of my two older children murdered. We got away lightly. "One of my best friends - Leanne Sharabi - and her two teenage kids, executed. "They [Hamas] had too many hostages that day, so the orders went out to kill them. Don't take anymore back, just kill them. "There were whole families wiped out. "Crazy statements, but only losing my ex-wife and I thought I'd lost my daughter, I consider it lucky. Crazy statements." Will there be a peace deal? AS of August 2025, a lasting Israel-Hamas peace deal hangs in the balance. A January 19 ceasefire saw 25 Israeli hostages and 1,900 Palestinian prisoners freed, but collapsed by March 18 after Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 in Gaza. July's US-backed 60-day truce push aimed to free remaining hostages and spark permanent talks, but stalled in Cairo. Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal; Israel insists on Hamas disarming. With 90 Palestinians killed in recent strikes and both sides dug in—Israel on security, Hamas on ending the war—talks teeter. Mediators see glimmers of hope, but mistrust and clashing red lines keep peace elusive. Dublin-born Thomas - who grew up in London - travelled to Israel three decades ago to volunteer on a kibbutz near Gaza. He had two children with wife Narkis before they split and then had Emily with new partner Liat, who died of breast cancer when Emily was two. Narkis, 52, was killed on October 7 when 400 Hamas thugs rampaged through the Be'eri kibbutz. Emily was on a sleepover at a pal's home when she was snatched and Thomas survived by barricading himself inside a safe room for 19 hours. The youngster - who was rushed from house-to-house by Hamas fighters during gun battles with Israeli troops - turned nine while in Gaza before her release. She ran into her dad's open arms after 50 days in captivity traumatised and broken. Now 10-years-old, Thomas said Emily will forever be affected by her ordeal - and that he can no longer shield her from the inhumanity hostages are still suffering. Last week, warped Hamas released harrowing footage of two starved, pale and broken hostages - Evyatar David, 24, and Rom Braslavski, 21. 6 Thomas Hand has hit out at Sire Keir Starmer's proposal to recognise the Palestinian state Credit: Louis Wood - Commissioned by The Sun. 6 Israeli hostage Evyatar David looking weak and malnourished Credit: AFP 6 Rom Braslavski, 21, was seen in tears as he's held captive by Hamas terrorists "At first I obviously totally protected her from seeing stuff like that," Thomas said. "But more over time she wanted to see. She almost has to see. "Every child in the country knows what's going on. Some of them were involved in it. "Emily wants to see how our hostage are doing, surviving." After her release, Emily's weight had crashed, her clothes and hair were matted and filthy and she was unable to speak in more than a whisper. But Thomas told how Emily is now "doing amazing" and that they are doing everything they can to "bring her back to a normal childhood". He added: "She's having fun, surfing loads and horse riding. "She's put on her weight, she's out in the sun, she's getting tanned. She's doing childish, girly things again. "But she will always be that little bit more mature than all her friends the same age. "She's been through something no child, no human being, should ever be through." It comes as Israel said Friday it will intensify the 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City - renewing international calls for an end to the conflict. It will likely require mobilising thousands of troops and forcibly evacuating civilians.
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Israeli army kills Palestinians collecting aid, says Gaza civil defence agency
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RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Gaza civil defence says 10 killed across territory
Gaza's civil defence agency said at least ten people were killed across the Palestinian territory on Saturday, including civilians who were waiting to collect aid. Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said that at least six people were killed and 30 wounded after Israeli troops targeted civilians assembling near an aid point in central Gaza. The spokesman said strikes also hit areas in central Gaza, resulting in multiple casualties. Thousands of Gazans congregate daily near food distribution points in Gaza, including four managed by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Since launching in late May, its operations have been marred by almost-daily reports of Israeli forces targeting those waiting to collect aid supplies. Israeli restrictions on the entry of supplies into Gaza since the start of the war nearly two years ago have led to shortages of food and essential supplies, including medicine and fuel, which hospitals require to power their generators. Early yesterday, the Israeli security cabinet approved plans to launch major operations to seize Gaza City, triggering a wave of outrage across the globe. Despite the backlash and rumours of dissent from Israeli military top brass, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remained defiant over the decision. In a post on social media, Mr Netanyahu said "we are not going to occupy Gaza - we are going to free Gaza from Hamas". He faces mounting pressure to secure a ceasefire to bring the territory's more than two million people back from the brink of famine and free the hostages held by Palestinian militants. Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack triggered the war, called the plan a "new war crime". Israel's offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry, figures the UN says are reliable. The 2023 attack on Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
