Trump hopes to reach phase two of Gaza ceasefire ‘very quickly’

Since the ceasefire came into effect, at least 414 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
The Israeli military, which controls more than half of Gaza, has said it has only opened fire in response to ceasefire violations. It has blamed Hamas for the killings of three Israeli soldiers over the same period.
During the press briefing, Trump also warned that the US would launch further attacks on Iran if it was found to be using different sites to develop nuclear weapons.
In June, Trump claimed US air and missile strikes “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear facilities. Iran has denied seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
“I hope they’re not trying to build up again, because if they are we’re going to have no choice but to eradicate that build up,” he said.
Trump said he “had been reading” that the country was using “possibly different sites” to those targeted in summer.
Iran, which fought a 12-day war with Israel in June, on Monday denounced the reports as a “psychological operation” against Tehran.
It said it was fully prepared to defend itself, and warned renewed aggression would “result in harsher consequences” for Israel.
Trump and Netanyahu’s talks also focused on other regional tension points, including Syria and the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.
Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel was keen to ensure a peaceful border with Syria, and Trump said he hoped Israel would get along with President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who took power after longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad was deposed last year.
Israel has been suspicious of the new leader, who was once a member of al-Qaeda, and bombed government buildings in Damascus in July.
“Well, I hope he’s [Netanyahu] going to get along with Syria because the new president of Syria is working very hard to do a good job,” Trump said.
“He really is. I know he’s a tough cookie. And, you know, you’re not going to get a choir boy to lead Syria.”
Trump signed an executive order in June to end US sanctions against Syria.




