Trump points out at Israel's intelligence failures ahead of last weekend's Hamas onslaught, calls Israel’s defense minister a jerk

Former United States President Donald Trump called out Israel's intelligence failure ahead of last weekend's onslaught by Palestinian terrorist group Hamas which caught the nation by surprise, saying the country had to "strengthen themselves up.” “They've got to straighten it out because they're fighting, potentially, a very big force,” he said. “They're going to have to step up their game, and the United States is going to have to step up its game.” He further criticized Israel’s defense minister, calling him “this jerk" for warning Hezbollah not to attack Israel from the north.

Amidst the recent conflict in the Middle East, American leaders, including those vying for the Republican presidential nomination, have expressed strong support for Israel. President Joe Biden described the invasion by Hamas as one of the deadliest days for the Jewish population since the Holocaust, and the conflict has tragically claimed the lives of over 2,500 individuals on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.

Trump criticizes Israel

Despite being the leading contender for the GOP presidential nomination, Donald Trump, known for presenting himself as a staunch supporter of Israel, surprised many by offering sharp criticism during a rally. He expressed his support for Israel and commitment to combating Hamas. However, he also hinted at a previously undisclosed negative experience with Israeli leaders.


“Israel was going to do this with us, and it was being planned and working on it for months,” he said about the coordination to kill Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran’s Quds Force. “We had everything all set to go, and the night before it happened, I got a call that Israel will not be participating in this attack.”

“Nobody’s heard this story before,” Trump said. “They didn’t tell us why.”

“I’ll never forget that Bibi Netanyahu let us down,” he said.

“We were disappointed by that. Very disappointed,” he said. “But we did the job ourselves, with absolute precision … and then Bibi tried to take credit for it.”

Israel rejects allegations

Netanyahu government's communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, told Israel's Channel 13 that it was “shameful that a man like that, a former U.S. president, abets propaganda and disseminates things that wound the spirit of Israel’s fighters and its citizens. We don’t have to bother with him and the nonsense he spouts.”

Throughout Donald Trump's presidency, he and Benjamin Netanyahu maintained a strong alliance. However, this camaraderie strained when Netanyahu extended his congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden following the 2020 election victory, a move that drew Trump's disapproval as he was actively contesting the election results. This political shift highlights the complex dynamics that can emerge in international relations.

Trump rivals seize the opportunity

Trump's rivals quickly seized on his new comments. DeSantis posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that “it is absurd that anyone, much less someone running for president, would choose now to attack our friend and ally, Israel," and criticized Trump for calling Hezbollah “very smart" in his remarks.

White House spokesman Andrew Bates also said on X, “Calling an Iran-backed terrorist group ‘smart’ - especially at a time like this - is unhinged and sickening." He added, "Why in God’s name would any American do that?”

Trump and several Republican figures have sought to attribute responsibility for the Hamas invasion to the Biden administration, often pointing to the unfreezing of around $6 billion in Iranian assets, as Iran supports Hamas. Biden's administration has maintained that these funds have not been utilized.

In response, President Biden's campaign emphasizes that Trump's statements propagate misleading information concerning the Israeli crisis, emphasizing the need for both nations to unite during these times. Such political wrangling reveals the complexity of international relations amid a critical situation.