Trump to Meet Jordan’s King as Gaza Truce Hangs in the Balance
The New York Times
Hamas and President Trump have threatened to upend the cease-fire. Analysts say those words could prove hollow, but the deal still may not last beyond early March.
The future of the cease-fire in Gaza, along with the territory’s long-term fate, hung in the balance on Tuesday as President Trump prepared to meet with King Abdullah II of Jordan amid a public spat between the American leader and Hamas.
Mr. Trump envisions taking over Gaza and expelling Palestinians to nearby countries, including Jordan. He has threatened to end American financial support for Jordan if the king refuses to accept that vision.
The dispute is one of several that imperil the fragile truce between Hamas and Israel. Hamas threatened to derail the agreement on Monday night, warning that it would delay the release of some hostages on Saturday if Israel did not send more aid to Gaza.
In response, Mr. Trump threatened “all hell” if every hostage were not released by the weekend. Hamas later softened its position, while Mr. Trump included a caveat that suggested his threat was a negotiating tactic, not an ultimatum.
While the immediate crisis is likely to be resolved soon, analysts said, another hurdle looms in March, when the cease-fire is set to elapse unless Hamas and Israel negotiate an extension.
“It’s likely that they will reach a compromise before Saturday,” said Ibrahim Dalalsha, director of the Horizon Center, a political research group in Ramallah, in the West Bank. “But this crisis is a prelude for a much bigger crisis that is coming in early March.”
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