Trump Teases “Big Positive News” Amid Gaza War as Israeli Media Hides Ongoing Massacres
While Trump hints at a potential Gaza-related announcement during his regional visit, Israeli media faces harsh criticism for concealing the scale of civilian killings in Gaza.
Watan-Political and media circles in Israel and across the region are closely watching for clarity on what U.S. President Donald Trump meant by his statement two days ago about “big, positive news” he plans to announce during his upcoming visit to the region.
However, Haaretz dedicated its Thursday editorial to criticizing the Hebrew media’s betrayal of journalistic integrity by hiding the truth about the massive slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza.
In contrast, Yedioth Ahronoth ran with the front-page headline: “Surprise Policy,” reflecting growing Israeli frustration with Trump’s recent decisions—such as deprioritizing normalization with Saudi Arabia, announcing U.S. troop withdrawals from Syria, abruptly halting attacks on the Houthis, strengthening ties with Turkey, and letting the Gaza deportation plan fade.
Trump’s Gaza Hint Sparks Israeli Unease Amid Isolation Concerns
The paper argues that these moves show Trump’s strict “America First” approach, which has left Israel isolated, urging that Israel must now align its priorities with American interests.
It also highlights internal Israeli disappointment with pressure from some Republican leaders to scale back the multi-front war that Israel insists on continuing.
Yedioth adds that Trump promised “news related to Gaza,” raising questions about whether this involves a new deal with Hamas or a U.S.-Israel agreement to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
On the Iranian front, the paper quotes a U.S. source stating Trump won’t pursue a formal agreement, but is working on “an alternative solution.”
Meanwhile, Haaretz military analyst Amos Harel speculates that Trump might announce an Iran deal similar to the 2015 nuclear agreement he previously scrapped in 2018 at Netanyahu’s urging. If true, Netanyahu would be forced to either explain this apparent reversal or oppose the deal—risking a diplomatic fallout with Washington.
According to Israel’s official public radio, questions abound about the real nature of Trump’s “big positive news.” Is it about sending humanitarian aid to Gaza during his visit—potentially bypassing Israel and easing pressure on Saudi Arabia and Arab states amid the ongoing war? Or is it a new deal with Hamas?
Trump hinted yesterday: “There are intense efforts regarding Gaza. We’ll see what happens. You, the journalists, will find out soon.”
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a convicted extremist, responded: “No food should be allowed into Gaza. That would aid Hamas.”
He added: “I respect President Trump, but bringing in aid is a big mistake. We haven’t done enough to explain to him how dangerous that is to our soldiers.”
Gaza Starves Under Siege and Bombardment
While Israeli media debates Trump’s cryptic message and covers numerous other topics, it largely ignores the carnage in Gaza. Haaretz breaks that silence with details of yesterday’s massacre: over 100 Palestinians killed, many of them children and women.
Its editorial, titled “We Must Not Look Away,” features a photo of a young man in al-Bureij refugee camp holding his blood-covered blonde daughter—killed by an Israeli airstrike.
The paper denounces the mass killing of Palestinian children, going further than the usual mild statements of “concern” from Western and Arab leaders who avoid naming Israel as the perpetrator.
Haaretz writes:“This little girl in the photo—Israelis refuse to see her. If we see her, we feel guilt, and we don’t want to feel guilt, because October 7 happened to us—not them. We’re unwilling to let go of that narrative, even as we kill thousands of Palestinian children in its name.”
Yesterday alone, nine children aged 3–14 were killed by Israeli airstrikes targeting a school shelter and a mosque in al-Bureij, which the army claimed housed Hamas leaders. It said “precautions were taken,” but Haaretz rebuts that:“Regardless of claimed precautions, 32 Palestinians died—nine of them children, four women. The internet is filled with images of shredded bodies. Israelis can look away. Hebrew media can continue betraying journalism.
One can ignore 52,000 Palestinian deaths—18,000 of them children—dismiss their data, deploy denial tactics, numb the senses, and normalize the abnormal. But that doesn’t change the bitter truth: Israel killed them. Our hands did this. We must not look away. We must wake up and shout loudly: Enough with the war!”
In her weekly Haaretz column, Palestinian writer Hanin Majadla from Baqa al-Gharbiyye addresses Israeli readers with biting irony:“Have you ever spoken to a friend in Gaza who hasn’t eaten in days? Neither he, nor his surviving children, nor their mother have had food. But sure, go on rationalizing the siege.”
