The fragile ceasefire truce between Israel and Iran has been marred by allegations of violations from both sides. US President Donald Trump has weighed in on the situation, expressing his discontent with Israel’s actions. “I was really unhappy” with Israel, Trump said, criticizing the country for dropping “a load of bombs” after agreeing to the truce.
He took to social media and reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging him to halt further attacks. “Bring your pilots home, now!” Trump demanded.
Despite Trump’s assertions, Israel has maintained its aggressive stance towards Iran. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has ordered “intense strikes” on Tehran, accusing Iran of violating the truce brokered by the US and Qatar.
According to Katz, Israel will not be deterred from taking action against what it perceives as Iranian aggression. However, Iran has vehemently denied these claims, with its top security body warning that its forces stand ready to respond decisively to any Israeli violations.
The conflict between Israel and Iran has resulted in significant human suffering and material damage. Iran claims that over 400 people, including 13 children, have been killed, and at least 3,056 others wounded since Israel launched its attack on June 13.
In contrast, Israel has reported 24 civilian deaths from Iranian strikes. In a show of force, Iran fired a salvo of missiles at a US military base in Qatar on Monday, in retaliation for the attacks on its nuclear sites a day earlier.
Trump’s stance on the ceasefire has been somewhat ambiguous, as he insists that the agreement remains “in effect” despite what he sees as violations by both sides.
Qatari PM Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has expressed hope that the ceasefire “will hold and diplomacy will prevail,” emphasizing the importance of diplomatic efforts in resolving the conflict.
Netanyahu’s office has stated that Israel carried out one more attack near Tehran after Trump’s appeal but is refraining from “further strikes,” potentially indicating a willingness to de-escalate tensions.
The international community is closely watching the developments, with many urging restraint and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Trump’s role as a potential mediator has been highlighted, given his previous claims of brokering peace deals.
“Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal,” Trump said earlier, adding that “we will have peace, soon.” However, the deep-seated mistrust between Israel and Iran, coupled with the complexities of the conflict, makes a lasting resolution challenging to achieve.