US President Donald Trump has taken a firm stance on the conflict in Gaza, urging Israel to step up its military operations against Hamas. His latest remarks come shortly after the U.S. pulled its negotiators from ceasefire talks in the Middle East.
“Finish the Job,” Says Trump
During a private four-day visit to Scotland, Trump said, “I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad. It got to be to a point where you’re gonna have to finish the job,” referring to Hamas. He made it clear that he supports a military solution over diplomatic negotiations.
He added, “They’re gonna have to fight and they’re gonna have to clean it up. You’re gonna have to get rid of ‘em,” directing his message to Israel. His comments suggest a hard shift from peace talks to aggressive action.
U.S. Exits Ceasefire Negotiations
Earlier this week, the United States decided to withdraw from ongoing ceasefire discussions in the region. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and his team were called back, with Witkoff blaming Hamas for the lack of progress. He stated that the U.S. would now “consider alternative options.”
The talks, which were being held in Qatar, had been going on for over two weeks. Mediators had been trying to bridge the gap between Hamas and Israeli delegations to reach an agreement for a truce and the release of hostages.
Despite pulling back from the negotiations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government still wants a ceasefire. He claimed that Hamas is responsible for the failure to finalize an agreement.
Gaza Faces Growing Humanitarian Crisis
At the same time, the situation in Gaza continues to worsen. The United Nations has described it as a dire humanitarian emergency. A UN official even called the people of Gaza “walking corpses.”
The World Food Programme reported a dramatic increase in malnutrition, stating that “Malnutrition is surging with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment.”
The health ministry in Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, reported that nine more people died of malnutrition on Friday. This brings the total number of such deaths since the start of the war to 122.
International Calls to Allow Aid
In response to the crisis, France and the United Kingdom have demanded that Israel ease restrictions on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. In a joint statement, the two governments said, “Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.”
