Donald Trump has used a speech at a Republican Jewish convention to promise the reimposition of a controversial travel ban that targeted a slew of mostly Muslim countries if he gets re-elected, AFP reports.

“We will keep radical Islamic terrorists the hell out of our country,” Trump told the audience attending the annual summit of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

“You remember the travel ban? On day one I will restore our travel ban,” he said.

The former US leader was among several Republican hopefuls lining up at the gathering of influential Jewish donors to pledge unwavering support for Israel as its continues to pound Gaza in retaliation for the Oct 7 attack by Hamas.

Trump told the event that he would “defend our friend and ally in the State of Israel like nobody has ever.”

The conflict between Israel and Hamas is “a fight between civilisation and savagery, between decency and depravity, and between good and evil,” said Trump, who received the warmest response from attendees, as he took aim at the Biden administration and avoided criticising his rivals.