Donald Trump Says Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Knows He Wants War In Gaza To End

Donald Trump with PM Netanyahu. (Wikimedia Commons US/Embassy Tel Aviv)

JAKARTA - United States President-elect Donald Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu knew he wanted the war in Gaza, Palestine to end, while the number of victims continued to grow.

"He knows I want this war to end," Trump told Time magazine, quoted from The Times of Israel Dec. 13.

Time said Trump informed PM Netanyahu of his stance during a phone call made by the two during the presidential election campaign.

When asked by Time if he trusted PM Netanyahu when he entered his second term, Trump paused for a moment before answering, "I don't trust anyone."

He was also asked whether he still supports the two-state solution proposed by his first administration, or will support PM Netanyahu to annex more territory in the West Bank.

"What I want is a deal that will result in peace and where the killings stop," Trump replied, quoted by the New York Post.

Earlier, in a meeting at his Mar-a-Lago resort this year, Trump told PM Netanyahu his wish for the war to end before he took office.

Separately, Gaza's health authorities announced on Thursday that the death toll from Palestine since the latest conflict in Gaza broke out on October 7, 2023, had reached 44,835, while injuries were 106,356, the majority of women and children, quoted from WAFA.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has so far refused to end the Gaza war in exchange for the release of the hostages, arguing it will allow Hamas to bounce back.

He also owes it to right-wing coalition partners who threaten to undermine his government if he approves such exchanges.