Israel war: Donald Trump to watch October 7 slaughter footage
Donald Trump is set to watch a real-life horror film which depicts the carnage of October 7 ahead of his meeting with Israel’s PM, as he warned there’s “no guarantees” the Gaza ceasefire will hold.
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Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel has given Donald Trump a chilling “documentary” of Hamas’ October 7 attack which includes video from the terrorists’ own body cams.
The documentary-style production was created by the Israeli Defense Force and has been viewed by world leaders and foreign media in order to give them an understanding of the horror.
The IDF compiled the footage of the attack, which claimed the lives of around 1200 Israelis, after combing through hours of CCTV, dashcam and body cam footage – including some seized directly from Hamas militants.
Israeli outlet Ynet is reporting Mr Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, saw the film last week and was so disturbed by its contents he insisted the president also be allowed to watch.
The full screening of the documentary is 47 minutes long, but it is understood Mr Trump has been given a special 20 minute edit which showcases the very worst of the massacre.
Mr Trump said he is not sure the Gaza ceasefire will hold, a day before he was to meet with his Israeli counterpart.
“I have no guarantees that the peace is going to hold,” he told reporters.
His Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff added, “it’s holding so far, so we’re certainly hopeful.”
Mr Netanyahu is already is Washington DC ahead of his meeting with Mr Trump which will take place on Tuesday, local time.
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‘OUR SOLDIERS HAVE REDRAWN THE MAP’: NETANYAHU
Benjamin Netanyahu has spoken of “redrawing’ the map of the Middle East with Donald Trump as he boarded a plane bound for Washington DC.
Mr Netanyahu gave a powerful speech in English before heading to his meeting with Mr Trump on Sunday.
“I’m leaving for a very important meeting with President Trump in Washington,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“The fact that this would be President Trump’s first meeting with a foreign leader since his inauguration is telling.
“I think it’s a testimony to the strength of the Israeli-American alliance. It’s also a testimony to the strength of our personal friendship.
“That friendship and that co-operation has already yielded important results for Israel and the Middle East, including the historic Abraham Accords that President Trump led and which brought four historic peace treaties between Israel and its Arab neighbours.”
Mr Netanyahu went on to explain what he and Mr Trump would talk about during their time together.
“In this meeting we’ll deal with important issues, critical issues facing Israel and our region: victory over Hamas, achieving the release of all our hostages and dealing with the Iranian terror axis in all its components — an axis that threatens the peace of Israel, the Middle East and the entire world,” Mr Netanyahu said.
“The decisions we made in the war have already changed the face of the Middle East. Our decisions and the courage of our soldiers have redrawn the map.
“But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further and for the better.
“I believe that we can strengthen security, broaden the circle of peace and achieve a remarkable era of peace through strength.”
Mr Netanyahu appeared to be referencing not only Gaza but also repairing ties with Saudi Arabia.
Mr Trump said Sunday that talks with Israel and other countries on the Middle East were “progressing,” ahead of discussions in Washington on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire.
“The discussions on the Middle East with Israel and various other countries are progressing. Bibi (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s coming on Tuesday, and I think we have some very big meetings scheduled,” the president told reporters.
ISRAELI MILITARY KILLS 50 IN WEST BANK
The Israeli military killed at least 50 Palestinians during more than two weeks of operations in the occupied West Bank, earlier levelling buildings in Jenin refugee camp in the territory.
The army later said it destroyed 23 buildings in the operation. An AFP journalist reported thick columns of smoke billowed over the surrounding area following the blasts.
Palestinian official news agency WAFA said Israeli forces “simultaneously detonated about 20 buildings” in the eastern part of Jenin refugee camp, adding that the “explosions were heard throughout Jenin city and parts of the neighbouring towns”.
The Palestinian foreign ministry in a statement condemned the Israeli action “to blow up large neighbourhoods”, describing the result as a “brutal scene”.
The Palestinian health ministry meanwhile said that the Israeli military killed two individuals in separate incidents in the West Bank on Sunday.
The ministry said that a 73-year-old man was killed by Israeli gunfire in the Jenin refugee camp, adjacent to the city.
A 27-year-old was killed also by the Israeli army gunfire in Al-Aroub camp, in the southern West Bank.
Witnesses reported a “large” deployment of Israeli forces in the morning around the towns of Tubas and Tamun, southeast of Jenin.
An AFP journalist said the army was blocking the exits of the nearby Faraa refugee camp and entering homes, evicting residents. Drones were also visible in the sky.
TRUMP, NETANYAHU TO DISCUSS CEASEFIRE PHASE TWO
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will begin talks on a second phase of the Gaza ceasefire in Washington on Monday.
The news came hours after the completion of the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange of the truce.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed the prime minister spoke with the US President’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff on Saturday and agreed that negotiations would “begin when they meet in Washington”.
A date for formal talks involving mediators and delegations from Hamas and Israel has not been set, with the 42-day first phase due to end next month.
Netanyahu’s office said Witkoff would talk to Qatar and Egypt, key mediators, before discussing with the Israeli premier “steps to advance the negotiations, including dates for delegations to leave for talks”.
The second phase is expected to cover the release of the remaining captives and to include discussions on a more permanent end to the war, something several members of Netanyahu’s government oppose.
Hamas and its ally Islamic Jihad have so far handed over 18 hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Israelis among them in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of them women and children.
RELIEF AS HAMAS RELEASES THREE ISRAELI HOSTAGES AFTER 484 DAYS
Hamas handed over three Israeli hostages to the Red Cross, kicking off the fourth swap as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel.
Israeli Yarden Bibas and French-Israeli Ofer Kalderon were released in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis in a swift and organised ceremony with few onlookers on Saturday.
Bibas was handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas after 484 days in captivity. He was first seen paraded on a stage where he briefly waved to the crowd before leaving in a Red Cross vehicle.
He was freed while his wife Shiri and children Ariel and Kfir remain in captivity.
Yarden Bibas is now on Hamas’ stage, forced to wave.
— Israel ישר×ל (@Israel) February 1, 2025
Yarden was kidnapped with his family from the Nir Oz kibbutz: 9-month-old Kfir, 4-year-old Ariel, and 32-year-old Shiri.
Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel are still being held hostage in Gaza. pic.twitter.com/zpXzjdixzn
Hostage Ofer Calderon was also handed over to the Red Cross and appeared to be in good health.
He was made to stand in front of a poster showing slain Hamas leaders including Muhammed Deif, the military leader whose death was announced this week.
Hamas fighters paraded American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, 65, on a stage set up at a harbour for the handover.
Hamas’ fourth swap also includes an exchange for 183 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
NETANYAHU DECRIES ‘SHOCKING SCENES’ DURING HOSTAGE RELEASE
Mr Netanyahu slammed what he described as “shocking scenes” during the recent handover of eight hostages by Hamas militants.
“I view with great severity the shocking scenes during the release of our hostages. This is yet another proof of the unimaginable cruelty of the Hamas terrorist organisation,” Mr Netanyahu said in a statement, after television images showed gunmen struggling to control hundreds of Gazans gathered to witness the handover.
The site of the designated handover was near the family home of slain Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
“I demand that the mediators ensure such horrific scenes do not recur and guarantee the safety of our hostages,” Mr Netanyahu added.
“Anyone who dares to harm our hostages will bear full responsibility for their actions.”
Chaos erupted in the southern Gaza city of Khan Yunis when the hostages, who looked visibly distressed, were brought for the handover as hundreds of people crowded to witness the event.
Israeli Agam Berger was handed over first, followed by seven more: Israelis Gadi Moses and Arbel Yehud, and five Thai nationals.
– with Agence France-Presse (AFP)
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Originally published as Israel war: Donald Trump to watch October 7 slaughter footage
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