In a sharp reversal of his earlier stance, U.S. President Donald Trump has called on Israel to escalate its military offensive in Gaza and “finish the job” against Hamas. This comes just weeks after Trump expressed hope that a ceasefire deal was within reach.
Speaking to reporters before departing Washington for a weekend trip to Scotland, Trump placed full blame on Hamas for the collapse of ceasefire talks, accusing the group of stalling and acting in bad faith. “I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad,” he said. “You’re gonna have to finish the job.”
The comments follow the U.S. administration’s decision to withdraw from ceasefire negotiations, which were being mediated in Doha. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, said the talks had stalled due to Hamas’ lack of coordination and unwillingness to compromise. He confirmed that the administration is now considering “alternative options” to secure the release of remaining hostages.
Trump’s shift marks a dramatic change from earlier this month, when he projected optimism that a peace deal was imminent. But growing frustration inside the White House over stalled negotiations in both Gaza and Ukraine has reportedly dimmed Trump’s hopes of securing a Nobel Peace Prize — a goal he has openly expressed in the past.
Despite the president’s tough rhetoric, other regional players remain cautiously optimistic. Egypt and Qatar, who have served as key mediators, described the current pause in negotiations as “normal” in the context of such complex talks. An Israeli official also confirmed that the discussions “have not at all collapsed” and could resume.
Still, Trump’s withdrawal came as a shock to diplomats on the ground. One source close to the talks in Doha described the decision as “an earthquake,” adding, “We’re dealing with the aftershock.”
Negotiators continue to disagree over several key issues: the timeline for ending the war, the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, and the future presence of Israeli forces in Gaza.
Trump insisted Hamas is deliberately dragging out talks to maintain leverage. “Now we’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages,” he said, implying the group is stalling.
He declined to elaborate on recent conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying only that they were “sort of disappointing.” Still, he made no indication that the U.S. would pressure Israel to de-escalate, even amid rising international criticism over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
A UN official recently described conditions in Gaza as “hell on earth,” while Tunisian President Kais Saied confronted Trump’s senior Africa adviser with images of starving children — some reportedly eating sand to survive.
“This is absolutely unacceptable,” Saied said. “It’s a crime against all of humanity.”
Trump deflected blame, accusing Hamas of blocking humanitarian aid and arguing that the U.S. had been unfairly ignored for its efforts. “We contributed $60 million to food and supplies,” he said. “We didn’t get any thank you. And you know, that money gets taken. The food gets taken.”
However, an internal U.S. review reportedly found no significant evidence that Hamas had seized U.S.-funded aid.
Meanwhile, U.S. allies are beginning to take a stronger stance. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer labelled Israel’s actions as “indefensible,” and French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will push to recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the move, calling it “a slap in the face” to victims of the October 7th attack. But Trump brushed off the remark. “He’s a very good guy. I like him,” he said of Macron. “But that statement doesn’t carry weight.”
