How do I clear my Safari tabs on my iPhone?

That's very strange.

It should just open the gallery view directly.

Do you have many tabs open?

Have you tried restarting the iPhone? click here ➜ Restart your iPhone - Apple Support

This article give the steps for closing Safari tabs: Open and close tabs in Safari on iPhone - Apple Support

I know how but it has become difficult now. When I press the double square for the close tab menu a square opens with the word tabs. I have to try multiple times to get past it and have the tabs menu open. Any suggestions?

Not sure what you are experiencing exactly.

Can you post a screen shot?

Tapping the 2 squares icon, should immediately bring up the open tabs gallery view. From there you can tap on the (x) on the corner of each tile image to close them.

This is what I get when I touch the tabs I can lightly, long touch , or press it doesn't matter I have to try over and over before it'll do it