Mahmoud-Trump in phone call, pledge to end ongoing war

Last Updated on November 11, 2024 6:13 am

Donald Trump, the newly elected president of the US, spoke by phone with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas. In the call, he expressed his desire to work to end the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The Palestinian Authority said in a statement that Trump promised that he would “work to end the war” and take steps to reduce tensions in the region.

The Times of Israel reported on Saturday (November 9).

The conversation, which took place amid rising violence and calls for international intervention, marks a significant moment given Trump’s previous stance on Middle East peace during his time in office.

The statement, however, did not provide further details on the specifics of Trump’s plan. And it is still unclear what steps he intends to take to end the war.

Trump made controversial policies during his last term, including recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. There is speculation about how Trump will stop Israel from fighting in Gaza.

Abbas has been the Palestinian president since 2005. He leads the political party Fatah. Hamas and the Fatah party are bitter rivals.

Israel withdrew its troops and about 7,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip after the second and most violent intifada in 2005. A year later, Hamas won a landslide victory in Palestinian elections. This was followed by a violent power struggle between Hamas and the Fatah party in 2007.

At that time, the Fatah party was led by President Mahmoud Abbas. Hamas won in Gaza and has remained in power there ever since. During this time, the Gaza Strip has been the scene of three wars and a 16-year blockade.