From the Liveblog of
Friday, February 21, 2025
US’s Waltz says Hamas opposition to 2 states is one reason it must be eliminated
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz cites Hamas’s opposition to a two-state solution as one of the reasons why Hamas must be eliminated.
“There’s a lot of talk about a two-state [solution]. You know who doesn’t want a two-state? Hamas. And that is why they just cannot exist going forward,” Waltz says during an on-stage interview at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.
US President Donald Trump presented a peace plan in 2020 that he described as a “realistic two-state solution,” but earlier this month, he appeared to try and distance himself from the plan and has avoided taking a clear stance on the framework.
Asked about Hamas’s return of an anonymous Gazan instead of Shiri Bibas yesterday, Waltz says Trump’s message to the hostage families is, “We are with you.”
“His heart breaks, and he is horrified by these scenes coming out. If anyone thinks that Hamas is some type of quasi-benevolent, not so bad… something less than the despicable terrorists that they are, what more convincing do you need?” he says.
“Hamas is one of the worst kinds of terrorist groups out there. They are no different than ISIS. They are no different than al-Qaeda, and they absolutely must be destroyed,” he adds.
The Times of Israel Community.