Trump blames Hamas for negotiations failure and urges military action
- U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff stated the Trump administration is considering alternative options due to Hamas's lack of cooperation.
- Donald Trump criticized Hamas's unwillingness to negotiate and suggested they prefer escalation over resolution.
- Israeli authorities are contemplating military actions as negotiations have been deemed unsuccessful.
In the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, discussions regarding a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement have stalled. U.S. President Donald Trump highlighted his frustration with the impasse, asserting that Hamas is not genuinely interested in negotiating and implied that they seem to desire further conflict rather than peace. Trump's comments came in the context of U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff's statement that the Trump administration would investigate alternative options to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, indicating a potential shift in approach due to the perceived lack of goodwill from the Palestinian group. As negotiations broke down, Israeli authorities also reacted, suggesting that the circumstances required a robust military response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed agreement with Witkoff, labeling Hamas as the primary barrier to achieving a deal for the release of hostages. He emphasized that alongside U.S. partners, they are now exploring various strategies to secure both a hostage release and a longer-term solution to the threat that Hamas poses. The Israeli military has continued operations in Gaza under the campaign known as