Politics

Trump signs four executive orders in support of Israel

On his first day as President of the United States, Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders that prioritize U.S. support for Israel and address Jewish and national security issues.

1. Lifting of sanctions on Israeli settlers:Trump repealed Executive Order 14115, which lifted sanctions on Israeli settlers in Judea and Samaria (the “West Bank”), strengthening U.S. support for Israel’s sovereignty.

2. Reinstatement of ICC sanctions: International Criminal Court (ICC) sanctions, removed under Biden’s presidency, have been reinstated to combat alleged anti-Israel bias.

3. Suspension of foreign aid: 90-day suspension of US foreign aid programs, such as those benefiting UNRWA, accused of ties to Hamas, to reevaluate their alignment with the administration’s policies.

4. Expulsion of extremist supporters: Trump authorized the deportation of visa holders involved in pro-Hamas protests, riots or fundraisers on US campuses or those who support hateful ideologies.5. Expanded arms support for Israel: Restrictions on sales of advanced weapons, including 2,000-pound bombs, were lifted to strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities.

These measures highlight Trump’s strong dedication to Israel, support for the Jewish community and commitment to fighting extremism both domestically and internationally. The US envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, announced his intention to visit the Gaza Strip to ensure the implementation of the ceasefire and the release of the hostages. During an interview with Channel 12, Witkoff highlighted the difficulties of the process: «The execution of the agreement was complex, but the implementation could prove even more challenging. Going to the Gaza Strip means ensuring that planned measures, such as those envisaged on the Netzarim Line and in the Philadelphia Corridor, are implemented correctly.” Witkoff also declared that the agreement reached in recent days is practically the same as that suggested by the former president of the United States, Joe Bidenlast May. «I follow the original plan almost to the letter. Throughout the negotiations, we operated based on that agreement,” he said, referring to coordination with the Trump administration. That Hamas fears the arrival of the new administration is certainly not a secret, however, this morning the jihadist group once again tried to gain credibility with the new American President. The top Hamas official Mousa Abu Marzouk during an interview with the New York Times he stated: «Trump is a serious president and we are ready to dialogue with America and reach agreements on everything. Trump can come and see the people and try to understand their feelings and desires so that the American position can be based on the interests of all parties, and not just one party.”

As the New York Times writes Abu Marzouk, A native of Gaza and former resident of Northern Virginia, he is a member of Hamas’ political bureau, but it is uncertain whether he represents the views of all the movement’s major leaders, such as Mohammed Sinwar and Izzeldin al-Haddadmilitary commanders known for their ideological fanaticism. Considered one of Hamas’ most pragmatic figures, Marzouk heads the organization’s foreign relations office. Meanwhile, other Hamas leaders have focused their efforts on strengthening ties with members of the resistance axis, which includes Iran, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, some Iraqi militias and the Houthis in Yemen. Hamas’s attempt to gain credit with Trump is destined to fail given that the American President stated: «I have no confidence in the stability of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip reached between Israel and Hamas. It is not our war, it is their war. But I have no confidence in the agreement. Hamas, it has been weakened by the war, I saw a photo of Gaza. Gaza is like a huge demolition site,” Trump said. Then the tycoon said that there could be “a fantastic plan” for the reconstruction of Gaza: “It is in a phenomenal position on the sea, the climate is fantastic. You know, everything is perfect. We can do wonderful things in this place.” Without Hamas obviously…