WASHINGTON, April 23, 2025 (BSS/TASS) - The United States will not let Palestine's radical movement Hamas to participate in the Gaza Strip's government in the future, US President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House.

When asked by a reporter whether Washington will prevent Hamas from having any role in the governing of Gaza after the conflict, Trump replied: "We're not going to let Hamas do that."

"We're going to see what happens with Gaza, but we've made a lot of progress in the Middle East," he went on.

"That very special date, October 7, should have never happened. It would have never happened if I were president, but we'll be stopping that whole situation," Trump added.

Tensions flared again in the Middle East on October 7, 2023, when militants from the Gaza Strip-based radical Palestinian movement Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israeli territory, killing residents of Israeli border settlements and taking hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, aiming to dismantle the political and military infrastructure of Hamas and secure the release of the hostages. Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the hostilities, with some 117,000 others being injured.

On March 18, the Israeli military resumed military operations in Gaza, launching heavy strikes on the enclave, thus breaking the ceasefire deal that had been reached in January. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that the move was due to Hamas's rejection of proposals put forward by mediators and US Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff. According to the Israeli authorities, the goal of the operation is to ensure the release of all hostages held in Gaza. Hamas, in turn, blamed Israel and the US for the resumption of military activities.