Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday accused Hamas of intentionally derailing ceasefire efforts in Gaza, following the collapse of indirect negotiations involving Israel, the U.S., and Qatari mediators.
“It was too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die,” Trump stated bluntly during a press briefing.
For over two weeks, mediators in Doha, Qatar, had engaged in shuttle diplomacy between delegations from Israel and Hamas, hoping to secure a truce and finalize the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza after nearly two years of war.
Trump’s Final Warning to Hamas
Trump claimed the breakdown in talks was due to Hamas’s unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.
“Now we’re down to the final hostages, and they know what happens after you get the final hostages,” Trump warned, alluding to a possible escalation of Israeli military action.
Although Israel withdrew its negotiators from Doha earlier this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaffirmed his government’s commitment to finding a resolution.
Macron’s Palestine Recognition Dismissed
Trump also weighed in on the recent move by French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced support for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Trump criticized the gesture, saying:
“He’s a very good guy, I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry weight.”
The comments add to the already tense geopolitical environment, as efforts to end the Gaza war appear to have stalled amid deepening international divisions.
