Trump Must Use U.S. Leverage to Stop Netanyahu’s War on Gaza

Image Credit, Badwanart0

As the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza deepens, the United States—and specifically President Donald Trump—must take meaningful action. A true ceasefire cannot be achieved through words alone. It requires the use of American leverage, especially its billions of dollars in annual military aid to Israel. If President Trump is sincere in his aspirations for a Nobel Peace Prize and a legacy as a global peacemaker, he must move beyond rhetoric and demand an end to Israeli attacks by applying direct pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The numbers alone are staggering. More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 130,000 wounded in relentless Israeli airstrikes, shelling, and ground operations in Gaza. What was once the largest hospital in the territory is now teetering on collapse, and aid convoys are routinely targeted. Doctors operate without anesthesia. Children die of hunger. Fuel shortages have rendered hospital generators useless. Even attempts by desperate civilians to collect food have resulted in mass killings at distribution points.

This is not a war—it’s a slaughter.

While both Trump and Biden have publicly called for a ceasefire, neither has taken the bold step of tying that demand to military assistance. This hesitation undermines U.S. credibility. If a ceasefire is indeed a top priority, then it is time to act like it. Netanyahu continues his brutal campaign because he believes the U.S. will never hold him accountable. Until that changes, peace will remain a fantasy.

Trump, in particular, holds unique leverage. His administration has boasted of restarting the transfer of heavy bombs to Israel—some of the same munitions that were briefly withheld by President Biden due to humanitarian concerns. These weapons are now raining down on densely populated neighborhoods, refugee camps, and schools. If Trump truly wants to be seen as a peace-broker, he must make clear that continued military support will only be available if Israel halts its assault and commits to a lasting ceasefire.

A peace deal cannot be negotiated while unarmed civilians are being buried under rubble. Nor can diplomacy proceed while plans are being openly discussed to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza. Netanyahu’s government has promoted so-called “emigration plans” that amount to forced displacement—a crime under international law. The Israeli Minister of Defence even floated a proposal to create internment camps in southern Gaza. These are not abstract ideas—they’re blueprints for ethnic cleansing.

Worse still, there is growing concern that Israel may use any temporary ceasefire as a cover for continued occupation and long-term depopulation. While Hamas has indicated willingness to release hostages and agree to a truce, Netanyahu insists on maintaining a military presence in Gaza and refuses to guarantee an end to the war. The Israeli government’s objectives appear to go beyond security—they aim to permanently alter the demographic and political reality in Gaza.

Trump’s own record complicates the situation. Earlier this year, he floated the idea of transforming Gaza into the “Riviera of the Middle East”—a vision that eerily echoes past colonial fantasies. But at its core, it’s a proposal that dismisses Palestinians’ right to remain in their own land. Any peace plan that does not prioritize the right of Palestinians to live freely, safely, and with dignity in Gaza is not a peace plan at all.

The world must reject Netanyahu’s vision of an empty Gaza. Forcing people to flee under the threat of bombing, starvation, and disease is not peacekeeping—it’s a war crime. If Trump is serious about securing a historic diplomatic win, he must be bold. That means suspending military aid until Israel agrees to a full, verifiable ceasefire and a withdrawal from Gaza. The longer he waits, the more innocent lives will be lost—and the more complicit the United States will become.

Palestinians do not want war. They want to thrive in Gaza, to rebuild their homes, to send their children to school, and to dream of a better future. This vision is still possible—but only if the bombs stop falling.

It’s time for Trump to choose: legacy or complicity.