Trump Tells Netanyahu, "Do Whatever You Want" on Hostage Release Issue

During a conversation with journalists, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will participate in talks between Russia and the United States to resolve the Ukraine crisis. Trump mentioned discussions on a Ukraine peace agreement and stated that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would take place soon. He emphasized that Putin wants the war to end as quickly as possible.

Regarding the second phase of ceasefire talks in Gaza, Trump said that reaching an agreement with Hamas is Israel's responsibility, but any steps would be taken after consulting with the U.S. On the issue of hostage release, Trump stated, "I told Netanyahu, do whatever you want..."

This statement from Trump, giving Netanyahu free rein to act, comes at a time when he had warned Hamas last week that if all hostages were not released by Saturday, they would face serious consequences. However, Hamas only released three Israeli prisoners during a prisoner exchange on Saturday, as per their agreement.

Trump's statement that "Netanyahu has the freedom to act independently" not only reflects his weak leadership but also shows his failure to adopt a responsible and collective approach, instead of recognizing Israel's excessive authority. Trump's intervention in ceasefire and peace efforts has been minimal, and his statement appears to disregard the international community's efforts to resolve conflicts by allowing Israel to act without any constraints.

At a time when the conflict in Gaza is at its peak and no concrete steps are being taken on the issue of hostage release, giving Netanyahu complete freedom allows him to evade his responsibilities. Additionally, placing the responsibility of reaching an agreement with Hamas on Israel, when Trump knows that Israel has already violated the terms of previous agreements, seems like a move that only exacerbates an already complex situation.

The combined policies of Trump and Netanyahu are not only increasing regional tensions but also highlighting their failure to take any concrete steps toward peace.