Trump Urged to Stop Netanyahu’s Second Gaza Genocide

People wait for food at a community kitchen in western Gaza City.

President Trump, you are the only leader who can stop Netanyahu from committing another genocide in Gaza. The whole world is watching. Do not allow yourself to become an accessory to the murder of thousands of innocent Palestinian women and children and the destruction of what remains of Gaza.

As I write this column, the Israeli military is converging on Gaza to destroy what is left after 22 months of relentless war that killed more than 60,000 Palestinians and leveled 80 percent of its infrastructure.

To call this unconscionable is an understatement. The world must awaken to this unfolding disaster, which amounts to a second genocide against the Palestinians. The Netanyahu government is not hiding its intended crimes against humanity. Eli Cohen, a minister in Israel’s security cabinet, stated, “Gaza City itself should be exactly like Rafah, which we turned into a city of ruins.”

The global community must act urgently to stop Netanyahu’s new offensive. Trump, more than any other leader, has the power not only to ask but to demand that Netanyahu halt this second genocide, which threatens to kill thousands of Palestinian women and children and displace hundreds of thousands, making Gaza uninhabitable.

Trump must remember that inaction will make him an accessory to genocide, as the US supplies Israel with weapons and ammunition used in attacks on Palestinians.

Even if Israel succeeds in its campaign for total ethnic cleansing, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will enter a new, more violent phase with catastrophic consequences. Hamas will not be eliminated as a movement. Moreover, new radical movements could emerge throughout the Middle East, destabilizing the region. Rather than forging peace accords, Trump may face raging conflicts beyond his control.

This is the moment when Trump’s leadership matters most. Immediate action is required. A simple phone call to Netanyahu could demand an immediate halt to the offensive. This is a humanitarian crisis of the highest order.

Even ardent supporters of Israel in the US will understand that America still has a moral obligation it cannot forsake, even with a close ally. By acting, Trump could emerge as a statesman rising to the moment instead of aiding Netanyahu’s campaign.

If Trump aims for the Nobel Peace Prize, he must not only stop the new offensive but also push for an end to the war in Gaza, demand an exit strategy from Netanyahu, and work toward a permanent solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Dr. Alon Ben-Meir is a retired professor of international relations, most recently at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU). He taught courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies.