President Donald Trump on Friday said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should escalate the war in Gaza and “get rid” of Hamas following the collapse of ceasefire and hostage negotiations.
Trump made the remarks after a call with Netanyahu, as humanitarian conditions in Gaza deteriorate further, with increasing reports of Palestinians dying from starvation, according to Axios.
“Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die and it’s very bad. It got to a point where you have to finish the job,” Trump told reporters before leaving for Scotland.
He added, “The Israelis are gonna have to fight and they are gonna have to clean it up — you will have to get rid [of Hamas].” Trump also suggested Hamas would not release hostages because they serve as “bargaining chips” and “protection.” “Now they are going to be hunted down,” he said.
Despite nearly two years of fighting, Hamas has not yielded its core demands, though Israel has killed much of its military leadership. A ceasefire offer backed by Qatar and Egypt was accepted by Israel but rejected by Hamas, which proposed a counter-offer that Israel immediately dismissed.
Following the failed talks, Israel recalled its negotiators. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said Hamas’ move “shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire,” adding that the U.S. will explore “alternative options.”
Netanyahu echoed those sentiments, saying Israel and the U.S. would now seek new strategies to end Hamas’s rule and bring home the remaining hostages.
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