Former national security advisor H.R. McMaster argued that the ongoing conflict in Gaza will continue and life for Palestinians cannot improve “until Hamas is destroyed.”
McMaster joined “Fox News Sunday” where he noted that a ceasefire is necessary, but Hamas must be defeated first.
“We need a ceasefire in Gaza,” he began. “Actually, until Hamas is destroyed, in my belief, you can’t have any better life for the Palestinians, and certainly, you have to get the hostages back.”
McMaster, who served in President-elect Trump’s White House from February 2017 to April 2018, acknowledged the difficult international situation the next Trump administration is going to inherit.
He said the Trump administration has a “huge opportunity” in this moment with Israel, Iran and the proxy groups.
“I would like to see us working more actively with the Israelis and others to get the hostages back, but also to make Iran pay the price for their terrorist and proxy network across the region,” McMaster said.
He argued that Iran has “always been weak” and the United States needs to “act strong” and work toward language of de-escalation.
“I think President Trump understands,” McMaster said.
Part of what Trump understands, McMaster argued, is imposing financial costs on Iran and foreign adversaries.
On the campaign trail, Trump touted his tariff plan and has already said he will take action on day one. He’s said he would impose new tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China through an executive order. The president-elect said the new tariffs are meant to push all three countries to take stronger efforts on border security and the fentanyl crisis.
McMaster argued that if Trump imposes financial constraints on Iran, it may work in the war’s benefit.
“I think imposing costs on Iran, isolating Iran financially and economically, I think that’s going to happen immediately in the Trump administration,” he said.
