On May 22 (local time), Israel announced that U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed support for the war objectives in the Gaza Strip set by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
According to The Times of Israel, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated in a press release that "Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump discussed the war in the Gaza Strip during a phone call today."
In a press conference held the previous day, Prime Minister Netanyahu presented "the release of all hostages, the elimination of Hamas, and the implementation of President Trump’s plan" as the objectives of the war. For the first time, he included the implementation of President Trump’s postwar plan for the resettlement of Gaza’s civilian population as a condition for ending the war. Earlier this year, President Trump caused a stir by proposing to relocate Palestinian residents from Gaza and, under U.S. leadership, develop the area as a resort destination.
The Prime Minister’s Office also stated, "The two leaders agreed on the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."
The phone call took place following the incident in which two Israeli embassy staff members were shot and killed in Washington, D.C., the previous day. "President Trump expressed deep sorrow over the horrific murders of the victims," the Prime Minister’s Office said. It added, "Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump and his administration for their efforts to combat antisemitism in the United States."
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