Former President Donald Trump made a bold statement on Saturday, promising to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This declaration was received with immense support at UFC 302, which he attended on the same night. The audience at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, welcomed him with thunderous applause.
Trump was seen in conversation with Khabib Nurmagomedov, a retired Russian mixed martial arts legend. A video posted on X captured their exchange.
Khabib told Trump, “I know you will stop the war in Palestine.”
Trump replied, “We will stop it. I will stop the war.”
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While Trump’s assertion was met with approval from his supporters, it also drew attention to a proposed peace deal in the Middle East aimed at ceasing hostilities and rebuilding Gaza without Hamas in power. This proposition is backed by current President Joe Biden; however, Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir have threatened to leave the governing coalition if it supports this plan.
The Defense Minister of Israel, Yoav Gallant stated that ending Hamas’s rule was a primary reason for initiating the war and remains a crucial condition for its conclusion. However, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has expressed that a permanent cease-fire in Gaza is not feasible until other conditions to end the war are met.
Despite this, Ophir Falk, a chief foreign policy adviser to Netanyahu, revealed that they had agreed to the proposal. “It’s not a good deal but we dearly want the hostages released,” he said.
The proposed deal includes a six-week cease-fire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated areas and release of women and children held as hostages. The final phase would involve rebuilding Gaza and returning the remains of deceased hostages to Israel.