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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to abandon efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas on Friday. Both leaders stated that it was clear the Palestinian militants did not want a deal.
Netanyahu mentioned Israel is now considering “alternative” options to achieve its goals of bringing hostages home from Gaza and ending Hamas rule, noting conditions such as widespread starvation and homelessness. Trump added that he believed Hamas leaders would be “hunted down,” saying, “Hamas really didn’t want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it’s very bad.”
The remarks seemed to rule out resuming negotiations for a ceasefire in the short term, despite growing international concern over worsening hunger in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would be the first major Western power to recognize an independent Palestinian state. Britain and Germany said they were not yet ready but later joined France in calling for an immediate ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s hardening position overnight indicated a shift from previous talks, while U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff blamed Hamas for the impasse. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim criticized Witkoff’s remarks as aimed at exerting pressure on Israel’s behalf.
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The proposed 60-day ceasefire was intended to suspend fighting, allow more aid into Gaza, and free some hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners jailed in Israel. However, disagreements over troop withdrawal and future arrangements beyond the 60 days stalled negotiations.
International aid organizations reported that mass hunger had arrived among Gaza’s 2.2 million people, with food supplies running low due to Israel’s restrictions on aid since March. The Israeli military agreed to let countries airdrop aid, but Hamas dismissed this as ineffective.
Israel accused the United Nations of failing to distribute aid and claimed UN staff were affiliated with Hamas, a charge the UN refuted. Aid agencies said supplies were running out for children suffering severe acute malnutrition.
The ongoing conflict has killed over 60,000 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023, according to local health officials, who reported nine more deaths from starvation or malnutrition over the past 24 hours. Israeli airstrikes and gunfire killed at least 21 across Gaza on Friday, including five in a school sheltering displaced families.
In Gaza City, journalist Adam Abu Harbid was killed overnight in an attack on tents housing displaced people. His body was carried through the streets by residents, highlighting the dangers journalists face during the conflict.
Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters captured 251 hostages and killed over 1,200 people near the border on October 7, 2023.
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What did both Netanyahu and Trump imply about Hamas's willingness to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza?
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