US President Donald Trump seemed confident some weeks ago that a deal was near to strike to end the Gaza war, paved the way to secure the release of hostages, and allow aid to flow into the warzone where Palestinians are dying from hunger. But unfortunately, Trump’s optimism seems to have gone. He called back his negotiators from ceasefire talks this week after the US believed Hamas neither coordinated nor acted in good faith.
Instead, Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said that the president was looking into alternative options for getting the hostages out. Trump, instead of encountering a swift return to negotiations, indicated on Friday that he supports an escalation of Israel’s military campaign. His comments came amid growing international concern over images showing starving children in Gaza.
Speaking about Hamas before departing for a weekend trip to Scotland, Trump said, “I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad.” He added, “It got to a point where you’re gonna have to finish the job.”
It remains unclear whether Trump’s change in tone reflects an actual collapse in negotiations or if it is a strategic move designed to pressure Hamas and break the current impasse, as some Western officials have speculated. However, Trump’s remarks indicated he is unlikely to call on Israel to ease its 21-month-long military operations in Gaza, despite the worsening humanitarian situation.
Gaza Residents are Walking Corpses
A United Nations official recently described conditions in Gaza as so severe that residents have become walking corpses. Trump didn’t provide details about his recent conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He only described the talks as “sort of disappointing,” and noted that Netanyahu’s recent actions in Gaza and Syria had surprised and frustrated him.
Trump said that Israel must continue its military action against Hamas. They’re gonna have to fight, and they’re gonna have to clean it up. You’re gonna have to get rid of ‘em,” he stated, referring to Israel’s efforts. His statement marked a clear shift from earlier efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, which had appeared close to finalizing earlier this month. The failure to end the conflict in Gaza, along with difficulties in stopping Russia’s war in Ukraine, has reportedly caused frustration for Trump, who continues to seek recognition such as the Nobel Prize.
Despite Trump’s pessimistic outlook, other signals from the region remained more hopeful. Qatar and Egypt announced plans to continue mediating peace efforts. In a joint statement posted by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they described the recent pause in the dialogue as “normal in the context of these complex negotiations.”
A senior Israeli official told CNN that the talks had “not at all” collapsed and that a path forward was still possible. Some US officials also said they hoped that Trump’s remarks, along with Thursday’s withdrawal by Witkoff from the talks, might motivate Hamas to return to the negotiating table.
Still, the US’s decision to step back from the talks caused alarm Thursday night in Doha, Qatar, where negotiations have been ongoing. “This is an earthquake,” said a source directly involved in the dialogs. “We’re dealing with the aftershocks.”
