Former US President Donald Trump placed the blame for the failure of Gaza ceasefire negotiations on Hamas, implying support for Israel to escalate its military actions. During a press briefing before his trip to Scotland, Trump voiced his disapproval of Hamas and suggested they have no interest in a deal. He stated, “It got to be to a point where you’re gonna have to finish the job.” These remarks represented a clear shift from his previous optimism regarding a resolution. The US administration had previously withdrawn its negotiators from talks held in Doha, citing a lack of good faith from Hamas. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, is now exploring alternative strategies to secure the release of hostages. When asked about recent interactions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump responded that they were “sort of disappointing.” He further added that Israel would need to “fight and they’re gonna have to clean it up. You’re gonna have to get rid of ’em.” While Trump blamed Hamas, officials from Egypt and Qatar indicated that the pause in talks was common during such complex negotiations. A senior Israeli official also stated that the talks had not completely broken down. Trump suggested that Hamas had little incentive to negotiate due to the reduction in the number of remaining hostages. US officials hope that Trump’s strong statements, along with the withdrawal of Witkoff, will encourage Hamas to return to the table. Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the State Department, emphasized the numerous options available to the US. Addressing the issue of US aid, Trump mentioned the contribution of $60 million in financial assistance. An internal US review found no evidence of widespread theft of the aid by Hamas. Trump is scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has criticized Israel’s military escalation in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of France recognizing a Palestinian state was dismissed by Trump.
