Times of Israel
US President Donald Trump says his administration is working to release the remaining hostages and to end the war in Gaza.
‘We’ve been working tirelessly to bring back all hostages held by Hamas,’ Trump says, highlighting yesterday’s release of American-Israeli Edan Alexander.
‘We continue to work to get that war ended as quickly as possible. It’s a horrible thing that’s taking place,’ Trump says, again appearing to break with Israel, which has pushed back against calls to end the war, arguing that it would leave Hamas in power.
Trump adds that ‘all civilized people must condemn the October 7 atrocities against Israel.’
‘The people of Gaza deserve a much better future, but that will or cannot occur as long as their leaders choose to kidnap, torture and target innocent men, women and children for political ends,’ Trump says.
Trump says he’s lifting US sanctions on Syria ‘to give them a chance at greatness’
In another major development for the region, US President Donald Trump announces that he will be lifting Washington’s sanctions on Syria.
He says he made the decision after consultation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, calling them people whom he has ‘a lot of respect for.’
‘I will be ordering the cessation of sanctions against Syria in order to give them a chance at greatness,’ Trump announces during a speech at a Riyadh investment conference on the first day of his Middle East trip.
The policy would appear to put him at odds with Israel, which has urged a much more cautious approach to the new Syrian government led by Ahmed al-Sharaa.
‘The sanctions were brutal and crippling and served a really important function at the time, but now it’s [the new Syrian government’s] time to shine,’ Trump continues. ‘So I say, ‘Good luck Syria.’