“We have peace in the Middle East. People don’t realize it” said the U.S. president.
U.S. President Donald Trump announces changes to the country’s fuel economy standards in the Oval Office at the White House on Dec. 3, 2025 in Washington, DC. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
U.S. President Donald Trump said at the White House on Wednesday that the second phase of the Gaza peace plan is “going to happen pretty soon,” despite ongoing Hamas ceasefire violations.
Responding to a reporter’s question about the fragile ceasefire, the president said, “It’s going along well. They had a problem today, I understand, with a bomb that went off, hurt some people pretty badly, probably killed some, they are telling me. It just happened.”
“We have peace in the Middle East. People don’t realize it. We have tremendous support. Fifty-nine countries. There is tremendous support,” Trump said referring to broad international backing for his Gaza peace plan.
“Phase 2 is moving along, yeah. It’s going to happen pretty soon,” Trump continued.
An Israel Defense Forces soldier was severely wounded and three others sustained lighter injuries on Wednesday after Palestinian terrorists emerged from a tunnel in eastern Rafah in the Gaza Strip.
The terrorists reportedly detonated an explosive device against the troops’ armored vehicle, prompting Israeli forces to kill two of the attackers. At least one terrorist reportedly escaped through the tunnel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the incident violated the terms of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.