On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas and other terrorists from Gaza deliberately targeted Thai nationals in southern Israel.

Many Thais work on Israeli farms in the area, and their presence was well known to Hamas.

The Gazans even learned phrases in the Thai language to lure out the frightened foreigners, before savagely executing or abducting them.

Forty-four Thais were killed and 31 taken hostage that day.

More on this tomorrow on IsraelToday.co.il

Netanyahu and his team prepare for the meeting with Trump.

Meanwhile, the president's advisers reiterate that the US, like Israel, will not accept continued Hamas rule of the Gaza Strip.

Benjamin Netanyahu and his son Yair with Elon Musk in Washington.

Hamas claims Israel is holding up humanitarian supplies to Gaza.

Here's the truth:

AID: According to the ceasefire deal, 4,200 aid trucks will enter the Gaza Strip every week, which equates to 600 trucks per day.

FUEL: In addition, 50 fuel tankers will enter the Gaza Strip every day.

TENTS: Nearly 200,000 tents (from Jordan, Egypt, the UN, and other sources) have been brought into Gaza since the ceasefire began - exactly the amount Israel committed to under the agreement.

HOUSING CONTAINERS: The only delay is in the provision of housing containers, which Egypt, Qatar, and the UN committed to supply. The production of these containers takes time, and none have yet arrived at the Gaza border.

At a press conference with Trump and Netanyahu that just ended, Trump said he doesn't want Jewish settlements in Gaza, but also suggested that the evacuation of the Palestinian population would be permanent.

For Israelis these are shocking remarks coming from a US president, and signal a real paradigm shift in a failed peace process that has long been waiting for someone to think "outside the box."

Oh, and earlier Trump signed an executive order barring any further American funding of UNRWA, the UN agency that became a front for Hamas.

This day thus far couldn't have been any better for Israel. Sure, Trump is a transactional guy and will no doubt require Israel pay a price for this huge shift in support, but most Israelis are thrilled to again be dealing with a US administration that "gets them."

‘DAY AFTER’ SOLVED? Trump says America will “take over the Gaza Strip” and take responsibility for clearing it out and rebuilding.

REMINDER: Right-wing Israeli politicians made similar proposals in the early days of the war, in particular the removal of the Gaza population.

They were ridiculed as delusional.

Now Trump has made their “fantasy” a political reality.

Opposition leader Benny Gantz in response to President Trump's remarks:

"President Trump has shown, and not for the first time, that he is a true friend of Israel and will continue to stand by it on issues important to strengthening its security.

"In his remarks, he presented creative, original and interesting thinking, which must be examined alongside the realization of the goals of the war, and giving priority to the return of all the abductees."

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Again, many of the proposals raised by Trump mirror those put forward by right-wing lawmakers like Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Only, when Ben-Gvir proposed them, Gantz and everyone else called him a "messianic" fool.

But from Trump's lips they are the thoughtful words of a friend, and "creative, original" thinking on how to manage the conflict.

NETANYAHU: The Bible says that the people of Israel shall rise like lions, and boy did we rise. Today, the roar of the lion of Judah is heard loudly throughout the Middle East.

Everyone worries that Donald Trump's "gifts" might come with a high price tag.

But hasn't Israel already been paying the price for decades, while getting far too little in return?

👉 More on the topic here

The leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Arie Deri, on President Trump:

"You act as God's messenger to the Jewish people and achieve great success thanks to your steadfast support of the people of Israel against all its enemies."