Will Trump let hell break out in Gaza?

by Adnan Hmidan

Since his return to the White House, Donald Trump has adopted a strategy of “shock and awe”— not just in foreign policy but in the smallest details of daily life. A flurry of decisions, provocative statements and threats stretching from Gaza to Canada, Panama and Greenland, alongside a return to populist symbols like plastic cups, suggest that he is determined to reshape the world according to a logic that suits him. However, what has sparked the most controversy is his explicit threat to “let hell break out” on Gaza, a move that could reignite the war on the enclave in its most brutal form and push the region into an abyss of uncertainty and bloodshed.

Trump seems well aware that creating a state of deliberate chaos is a fundamental part of his dominance over the political scene. He understands that unleashing a barrage of shocking decisions and escalating threats makes it difficult for his political opponents and the international media to respond effectively to all of them at once, granting him the opportunity to execute his agenda with minimal resistance. While grappling with a legacy tainted by trials and accusations that have shaken his image over the years, he is now striving with all his might to reintroduce himself as a leader who never backs down, even if the price is a military escalation that could ignite new global crises.

But this is not just about showcasing strength. For Trump, satisfying his hardline electoral base remains a top priority. This base thrives on rhetoric of power and dominance, feeding off slogans like “America First”, which have become even more aggressive than during his first term. As much as he seeks to present himself as the president who is “making America great again”, he simultaneously employs these political and military adventures as a tool to divert attention from deepening economic and social crises within the United States — a tactic leaders have historically resorted to when facing mounting domestic pressure.

What does this mean for Gaza?

Trump’s threat to open the gates of hell is not just empty populist rhetoric; it carries serious implications. When the U. president explicitly supports the ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza, he effectively gives Israeli leaders a green light to continue waging an unrestrained war, free from international pressure or political calculations. Even if this support does not translate into direct military intervention, it is enough to embolden Netanyahu and his government to persist in their campaign of bombing, destruction and outright rejection of any diplomatic solutions – making discussions of a truce or ceasefire nearly impossible.

While regional and international mediators, from Egypt to Qatar and the United Nations, work tirelessly to find a way out of this crisis, Trump’s statements serve to undermine these diplomatic efforts. How can any party be expected to engage in negotiations under the threat of annihilation and forced displacement? History has taught us that such threats do not lead to Palestinian surrender; rather, they reinforce their commitment to resistance — especially since what is happening is no longer just a “military operation” but a clear and deliberate attempt to uproot them from their land.

The outrage provoked by these policies will not be confined to Palestine alone. It could spill over into the broader Arab and Islamic world, where anger and frustration grow with each passing day as the tragedy in Gaza unfolds. If public protests escalate, Arab regimes may find themselves facing internal challenges that make it increasingly difficult to maintain their normalisation efforts or even remain silent in the face of renewed massacres. Additionally, these policies could deepen divisions within the Western bloc, as countries like France and Germany struggle to balance their traditional loyalty to Washington with mounting public pressure in support of Palestinians.

A defining moment for the world

All indications suggest that Trump’s latest remarks could be the final nail in the coffin of any de-escalation efforts. Instead, they may trigger an unprecedented escalation that thrusts Gaza back into the heart of the storm. But this raises a crucial question: Is the real problem Trump himself, or is it a world that allows him to act with impunity?

History has been a witness to this trial, where nations had to make a defining choice; either surrender to the logic of brute force or rise in defence of their principles. Today, Gaza is not just a battlefield; it is a moral and humanitarian test for the entire world. Will nations and peoples remain passive spectators to a recurring atrocity, or will there be those brave enough to stand against these aggressive policies?

History is not neutral, and it does not forgive hesitation. The world must choose; either to be complicit in a crime unfolding in broad daylight or to prove that justice and dignity are not just empty words. This test extends beyond Gaza; it challenges everyone who believes in justice and refuses to let the world be ruled by the law of the jungle.