US President-elect Donald Trump told NBC News Saturday that he had encouraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the hostage deal: “Just keep doing what you have to do. You have to have — this has to end. We want it to end, but to keep doing what has to be done.”
When asked how confident he was that the hostages would be released, Trump said, “Well, we’re going to see very soon, and it better hold.”
Currently, 33 hostages are set to be released in exchange for 1904 Palestinian prisoners beginning Sunday, though Hamas has yet to provide a list of names to Israel. Trump told NBC his administration will uphold the ceasefire with “good government.” “Respect. The United States has to get respected again, and it has to get respected fast. But respect is the primary word that I use,” he said. “If they respect us, it will hold. If they don’t respect us, all hell will break out.” Trump told NBC that he and Netanyahu will be meeting “fairly shortly” but did not provide any more details. (Source)
