Trump tells Israel to end Gaza war ‘quickly’

London: Israel has been told to end the war in Gaza “quickly” by Donald Trump, the former US president and current Republican nominee for the White House.

Trump told Fox News ahead of a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Friday that the war needs to end “because they (Israel) are getting decimated with this publicity, and you know Israel is not very good at public relations.”

The former president also said the attack by Hamas on Oct. 7 last year would not have happened had he been in the White House at the time.

Netanyahu is in the US as part of a visit to lawmakers across the political spectrum, during which he will also meet with President Joe Biden, who announced earlier in the week that he would not seek reelection, and the new favorite for the Democratic candidacy for the White House, Vice President Kamala Harris.

Netanyahu addressed Congress on Wednesday, in a speech that drew significant protests outside the US Capitol and which was boycotted by a number of prominent Democrats including Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar, who labeled him “utterly immoral” and “cruel.”

Demonstrators were seen burning flags outside as Netanyahu spoke, including the US flag, which Trump condemned

“You should get a one-year jail sentence if you do anything to desecrate the American flag,” he told Fox News. “Now, people will say, ‘Oh it’s unconstitutional.’ Those are stupid people. Those are stupid people that say that.”

He added: “We have to work in Congress to get a one-year jail sentence. When they’re allowed to stomp on the flag and put lighter fluid on the flag and set it afire, when you’re allowed to do that — you get a one-year jail sentence and you’ll never see it again.”

Trump told Fox News that all remaining hostages taken by Hamas need to be released, having previously suggested blame for the attack lay with Netanyahu and the failure of his government to ensure Israel’s security.