Trump Lashes Out at Netanyahu with Profanity Over Pessimism Regarding Hamas's Response to Gaza Plan

The news website Axios revealed that US President Donald Trump verbally reprimanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu using profanity during a phone call last Friday. Trump's anger was sparked by Netanyahu's sharp pessimism regarding the response the White House received from the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to Trump's proposal for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza.

Quoting US officials, the site reported that Trump called Netanyahu after receiving what he described as a "positive, conditional response" from Hamas to his peace plan. Hamas had stated its readiness to release all prisoners in exchange for a comprehensive, permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Gaza Strip, while requesting negotiations on certain details.

"Goddamn it, why are you always so pessimistic?"

According to a US official, Netanyahu told Trump that the "Hamas response means nothing and is not worth celebrating." This infuriated the US President, who sharply retorted: "Goddamn it, why are you always so pessimistic? This is an achievement, take it."

The source indicated that the incident reflects Trump's insistence on persuading Netanyahu to halt offensive operations if Hamas showed a willingness to reach an agreement, despite Netanyahu's reservations. The Israeli PM had privately insisted that Hamas's response constituted an "implicit rejection" of the American plan.

An Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu sought to coordinate positions with Washington to avoid a "misleading media narrative" suggesting a positive Hamas reply. Conversely, US officials confirmed that Trump saw the response as a "real window of opportunity to end the war," having previously feared an outright rejection from Hamas.

Sources added that the call was intense and fraught, and Trump was clearly annoyed by Netanyahu's lukewarm tone. Later, Trump told Axios that he told Netanyahu this was his "chance for victory."

US-Israeli Action Despite the Rift

Hours after the tense call, Trump issued a statement urging Israel to stop air strikes on Gaza. Just three hours later, Netanyahu ordered a temporary cessation of offensive operations. While the White House officially declined to comment on the call's content, Netanyahu later published a video reaffirming continued coordination with Washington and praising Trump’s role in "seeking security and peace."

Egypt is set to host indirect negotiations tomorrow, Monday, between Israeli and Hamas delegations, with mediators present, to discuss the details of the prisoner exchange according to Trump's plan. The plan, introduced last Monday, calls for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli prisoners in exchange for the movement's disarmament. Hamas reiterated its readiness to hand over the administration of the Strip to an independent (technocrat) Palestinian body as part of a national consensus.