WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump has accused Hamas of deliberately sabotaging ceasefire negotiations with Israel, claiming the Palestinian militant group has no real interest in peace.
Speaking Friday following the collapse of U.S. and Israeli participation in indirect talks in Qatar, Trump told reporters, “It was too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die.”
The negotiations, mediated by Qatar, had seen envoys shuttle between Israeli and Hamas delegations for more than two weeks in a last-ditch effort to broker a truce and secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages, nearly two years since the conflict escalated in October 2023.
Despite the stalled talks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government remained open to a deal, even after pulling its negotiators out of Doha earlier this week.
Trump, however, placed the blame squarely on Hamas. “Now we’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages,” he said, hinting at Israel’s renewed military push once hostage diplomacy ends.
The president also weighed in on France’s recent move to recognize a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement earlier this month, becoming one of a growing number of European leaders pushing for formal Palestinian statehood as a pathway to peace.
Trump dismissed the move, saying, “He’s a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight.”
Ongoing Crisis in Gaza
The stalled ceasefire negotiations come amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where international aid agencies have warned that food and medicine supplies are dwindling, particularly for malnourished children and vulnerable groups.
The war, which began after Hamas launched a deadly cross-border attack in October 2023, has since left tens of thousands dead and displaced over a million people.
Israel has vowed to continue its military operations until Hamas is eliminated, while mediators push for a ceasefire that includes the release of hostages and guarantees for Gaza’s reconstruction.
Efforts by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States have so far failed to bridge the gaps between the warring parties, with both sides accusing the other of negotiating in bad faith.
