Just days after Pope Leo XIV drew renewed attention to Gaza’s humanitarian suffering in his Christmas Day homily, President Donald Trump assured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a meeting at Mar-a-Lago that the U.S. would escalate military action if Hamas does not back down.
The Dec. 29 meeting at Trump’s Florida resort, which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on reviving the stalled U.S.-brokered Gaza ceasefire, addressing regional threats from Iran and Hezbollah, and navigating broader challenges to stability in the Middle East amid ongoing humanitarian concerns in Gaza.
Strong praise for Netanyahu’s leadership
- Trump praised Netanyahu, saying Israel “might not exist right now” if it weren’t for the prime minister’s leadership and arguing the country would not have survived recent conflicts under “the wrong prime minister.”
Trump to receive prestigious Israeli award
- Netanyahu announced that his country will recognize Trump’s contributions to peace and support for Israel by awarding him the “Israel Prize” or “Israel Peace Prize.” According to Netanyahu, this will be the first time the country’s highest civilian honor has been given to a non-Israeli.
Stalled Gaza ceasefire transition
- The U.S.-brokered ceasefire has held since October, halting major fighting after a two-year war that killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents. Transition to phase two — Hamas disarmament, Israeli withdrawal, new governance, and reconstruction — remains stalled amid mutual accusations of delays and violations. Trump stressed the urgency of moving forward.
Trump preemptively endorses future military strikes by Israel
- Trump endorsed the possibility of renewed military strikes against Hamas, warning that if the group does not fully disarm within a “very short period of time” as required for phase two of the Gaza ceasefire, “there’ll be hell to pay for them.”
- While the threat targeted Hamas specifically for non-compliance, it will likely renew widespread humanitarian concerns, as Israel’s large-scale military actions in Gaza over the past two years have resulted in significant civilian casualties.
Threats against Iran
- Asked about reports that Iran is rebuilding nuclear or ballistic missile capabilities, Trump warned, “We’re going to have to knock them down. We’ll knock the hell out of them,” while referencing prior U.S. and Israeli strikes. Citing analyst Behnam Ben Taleblu, Fox news called Trump’s threat a “significant” shift. Whereas previously Trump drew the line at Iran redeveloping nuclear capabilities, he now indicated he would take military action against the Middle Eastern nation over ballistic programs as well.
U.S. strike in Venezuela confirmed
- Trump confirmed a recent U.S. land-based military strike inside Venezuela, the first known of its kind, targeting an alleged drug-loading dock facility. He described a “major explosion” that left the site “no longer around.” No independent confirmation of damage or casualties has emerged, and details remain limited.
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