Trump Says Israel Has His ‘Full Backing’ to Take Out Hamas If They Reject His Deal

President Donald Trump said Israel has the “full backing” of the U.S. government to destroy Hamas, if the terror organization does not agree to the 20-point plan he shared for peace in Gaza on Monday.

The president, during a joint press conference at the White House with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said he is optimistic Hamas will comply. But if not, Trump said Israel has the right to continue the war in Gaza.

“I have a feeling that we will have a positive answer. If not, as you know, Bibi, you would have our full backing to do what you have to do,” Trump said, while looking over at Netanyahu. “Everyone understands that the ultimate result must be the elimination of any danger posed in the region, and the danger is caused by Hamas.” 

Trump’s proposal includes an immediate release of all remaining hostages and the creation of a new “Board of Peace,” led by Trump and “qualified Palestinians and international experts,” who will temporarily govern Gaza.

Trump said Netanyahu is fully on board with the plan.

“He understands it’s time. It’s time,” Trump said. “History has shown, and the people of Israel want it. And the people of the Middle East want it.”

The president added he was “hearing that Hamas wants to get this done too, which is a good thing.”

Monday’s press conference comes nearly two years after Hamas terrorists broke into Israel and killed 1,200 people; others were raped, and hundreds of hostages were taken back to Gaza. Israel, soon after the Oct. 7 attack, started its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The president said Hamas, rather than using aid to help needy Palestinians in the past, has used its funding to build 400 miles of “tunnels and terror infrastructure.”

“It’s time for Hamas to accept the terms of the plan which we have put forward today,” Trump said later in the press conference.

Trump also found some time for levity in the press conference.

He joked that Israel “gave up the ocean,” which you should never do in a real estate deal, by agreeing to a two-state solution. He also said, while discussing the Abraham Accords, that he is now pronouncing it as “Ah-bra-hom” because the “real people” pronounce it that way and it is “so much more elegant.”

But he then got back to reiterating there is a deal in place to end the war in Gaza — if Hamas complies. Trump sounded optimistic it will happen.

“We are right there,” Trump said. “We are right there for the first time in thousands of years.”

Watch part of his press conference above, via Fox News.