‘Middle East will be solved,’ says Trump as he prepares for White House comeback

United States President-elect Donald Trump vowed Thursday to address the numerous crises gripping the Middle East, which include Israel’s war against Gaza, ongoing developments in Syria, and a fragile cease-fire between Hezbollah and Israel.

‘Middle East more complicated than Russia-Ukraine’

“I think the Middle East is going to get—as we speak, things are happening very productively on the Middle East. I think the Middle East is going to get solved. I think it’s more complicated than the Russia-Ukraine situation, but I think it’s easier to solve,” Trump told Time magazine.

When asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had assured him of an end to the war against Gaza, Trump hesitated, saying, “I don’t want to say that, but I think he feels very confident in me.”

“I think he knows I want it to end. I want everything to end,” Trump continued. “I don’t want people from either side killed, and that includes whether it’s Russia, Ukraine, or whether it’s the Palestinians and the Israelis, and all of the, you know, the different entities in the Middle East.”

More than 44,800 people have died in Gaza since Israel began its military operations, according to official figures. The U.N. estimates that 70% of the casualties are women and children.

Trump did not provide further details on the productive developments in the Middle East he referred to, nor did he endorse a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, a controversial plan he had previously proposed during his first term.

“I support whatever solution we can do to get peace. There are other ideas besides two states, but I support whatever is necessary to achieve not just peace, but lasting peace,” he said.

Asked if he trusts Netanyahu, Trump responded, “I don’t trust anybody.”