US President Donald Trump has placed the blame for the apparent collapse of Gaza peace talks squarely on Hamas, stating that the group is refusing to agree to a truce because it fears what comes after all Israeli captives are released. Trump’s comments at the White House suggest that the US and Israel are not ready to guarantee a lasting end to the war but rather a short-term truce to secure the release of Israeli captives from Gaza.
“We’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages,” Trump told reporters. “And basically because of that, they really didn’t want to make a deal.” Trump further asserted that Hamas is going to be “hunted down,” emphasizing the group’s alleged unwillingness to negotiate. “Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad,” he said.
Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff accused Hamas of showing “a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire,” leading to the US and Israel withdrawing their negotiators from Qatar, where the talks were taking place. However, Hamas disputed Witkoff’s characterization, stating it had made “a sincere commitment to the success of the mediators’ efforts” to reach a deal. The mediators, Qatar and Egypt, reportedly welcomed Hamas’s “constructive and positive” position.
The proposed ceasefire would have lasted 60 days, allowing additional aid into Gaza and the release of some Israeli captives in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Despite this, Israeli officials repeatedly described plans to return to fighting and remove all Palestinians from Gaza after the captives are released. Israeli Minister of Defence Israel Katz said the country would use the truce to move hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to an internment camp in southern Gaza.
The Israeli-imposed starvation in Gaza has drawn international condemnation, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney labeling the denial of humanitarian aid a “violation of international law.” French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize Palestine as a state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Trump dismissed Macron’s statement, saying it “doesn’t carry any weight” and “it’s not going to change anything.”
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with reports indicating a rising number of Palestinians starved to death, the international community remains divided over how to address the crisis. Trump’s stance on the Gaza conflict has sparked controversy, with some advocating for a ceasefire and others supporting Israel’s actions.