Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, with the war in Gaza continuing and recent intensification in Lebanon, former US President Donald Trump claimed that the conflicts in both regions would not have occurred if he were in office.
In an interview Al Arabiya’s Nadia Bilbassy, Trump stated, “If I had been president, this war would never have started, and all those people wouldn’t have died.” He emphasized that the widespread destruction across cities and regions would not have taken place under his administration.
Trump also asserted that the deadly October 7 attack by Hamas on Israeli settlements and military bases would not have happened during his presidency. He criticized the aftermath of the attack, describing the resulting devastation, hostility, and suffering as preventable under his leadership.
The Republican candidate has previously made similar claims about his ability to halt the war in Ukraine, though he has not provided specific details on how he would achieve such outcomes.
Trump further suggested that Iran would not have dared to make moves or increase support for its allies in the region if he were president.
Since October 7 of last year, Gaza has been under intense Israeli bombardment following Hamas’s assault on Israeli settlements and military targets. Israel’s retaliatory airstrikes and ground operations in Gaza have led to at least 42,519 Palestinian deaths, mostly women and children, according to recent figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
