JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump about developments in Syria and a current push to safe the discharge of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, he stated on Sunday (Dec 15).
Netanyahu stated he spoke with Trump on Saturday night time concerning the problem, which is able to loom giant as one of many predominant international challenges dealing with Trump when he takes workplace if it isn’t resolved earlier than he’s sworn in on Jan 20.
Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 individuals and kidnapped greater than 250, together with Israeli-American twin nationals, throughout their Oct 7, 2023 assault on Israel, in accordance with Israeli tallies. Greater than 100 hostages have been freed by negotiations or Israeli navy rescue operations. Of the 100 nonetheless held in Gaza, roughly half are believed to be alive.
Israel’s response has killed nearly 45,000 individuals, largely civilians, in accordance with authorities within the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, displaced almost the whole inhabitants and left a lot of the enclave in ruins.
Trump’s Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, warned final week throughout a go to to the area that it will “not be a fairly day” if the hostages held in Gaza weren’t launched earlier than Trump’s inauguration.
Trump stated earlier this month there could be “hell to pay” within the Center East if the hostages weren’t launched earlier than he got here into workplace.
A Trump spokesperson on Sunday declined to provide additional particulars concerning the name.
