U.S. Senator Steve Daines appeared on Fox Business to discuss President Trump’s approach to ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing what he described as a “peace through strength” strategy.
During the interview, Daines shared his observations from a recent trip to the Middle East, where he visited Israel and the border with Gaza at the Kerem Shalom port of entry. He noted that humanitarian aid is being delivered there by organizations such as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation and Samaritan’s Purse.
Daines credited several individuals for their roles in a proposed peace deal aimed at ending hostilities between Israel and Hamas. “But boy, big credit goes to President Trump, to Steve Witkoff, to Marco Rubio, for framing this incredible peace deal that’s on the table and a big shout out to our Arab partners, the Arab nations. I was in Qatar and UAE as well last week. They’ve been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work to actually bring an end to this conflict,” Daines said.
He expressed concern about outside influences on the peace process: “What Greta Thunberg is doing, I mean, she is a climate activist. She’s pro-Hamas. She is undermining and risking this fragile peace deal at the moment that Hamas must accept.” Daines outlined key elements of the proposal: “Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump, they’ve gone out on a limb right now with a 20-point peace plan. But this would do it. It releases all the hostages, the IDF withdraws out of Gaza, and then we put in place this peace board that President Trump would lead with Tony Blair, the Arab nation supporting.”
Daines added that acceptance of the deal by Hamas would be telling: “This is a moment we can’t miss, and this will really reveal the true colors of Hamas. If they want peace, they will accept this deal.”
Addressing why Hamas should agree to these terms, Daines said: “At this point, those details remain somewhat on the sensitive and quiet side. But I just cannot overemphasize the important role that Steve Witkoff has played, our Arab partners have played, behind the scenes to get to this point, the ball is entirely in Hamas’s court. They need to accept this peace deal. If they do not, you know what Prime Minister Netanyahu is going to do. He’s going to finish the job and eradicate Hamas because we will never have true peace in Gaza until Hamas either leaves or is eradicated forcefully.”
On Russia’s war against Ukraine and President Trump’s influence on Vladimir Putin’s behavior during negotiations following meetings in Alaska, Daines stated: “Well, look, if you think about a football analogy, how many times could a footballteam win if they only had their defense on the field? You’ve got to have your offense on the field. And Vladimir Putin is not responding to any of the peacetalks. He is not negotiating good faith. Putin understands one thing, and that’sforce. He respects strength. The Ukraine war will only come to an end when Ukraine isin a position of strength. As you see, Putin has only escalated the tempo of thiswar following the Alaska meetings with President Trump. And so I think it is anappropriate option to put on the table. That will be up to Ukrainians to decideif they want to exercise it but they need all force needed bringan end war.”
The interview highlights ongoing diplomatic efforts involving U.S., Israeli leadership as well as engagement from regional partners like Qatar and UAE.
