Gaza, Hamas and Trump
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The armed group is electing a new head after its top leaders were killed by Israel.
President Donald Trump made a shocking statement praising Hamas at the inaugural meeting of his new Board of Peace on Thursday.
By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Israeli forces, Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups have both committed serious violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and carried out atrocity crimes,
Gazans say Hamas is again extending its control over security, tax revenue and government services.
In the coming days, a new leader for Hamas is expected to be elected, with the organization not ruling out the possibility of a new candidate emerging.
The president made the controversial remarks during the first Board of Peace meeting in Washington, sparking swift criticism from supporters and critics alike.
IDF soldier Corporal Noa Marciano, 19, was abducted during Oct. 7 massacre and murdered by Hamas terrorist Muhammad Issam Hassan al-Habil, who was killed in Israeli strike.
While Mansour Abbas previously hinted at external pressure to join a Netanyahu-led government, analyst Amit Segal reveals that the person on the other end of the line was a senior Hamas official.
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You Vote: After Trump's comments Thursday, will Hamas will disarm and give up control of Gaza?
"Hamas has been, I think they're going to give up their weapons, which is what they promised," Trump said. "If they don't, it'll be, you know, they'll be harshly met, very harshly met. They don't want that.
The official reportedly believed that "Netanyahu was looking for continued calm and quiet understandings, while a new government would be dragged into an operation in the Gaza Strip."