WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump has sharply reversed course on the Gaza conflict, publicly urging Israel to escalate its military campaign and “finish the job” against Hamas, only weeks after suggesting a ceasefire agreement was within reach. The statement marks a significant departure from earlier U.S. efforts to mediate peace and underscores growing frustration within the Trump administration over stalled negotiations.
Addressing reporters before departing Washington for a trip to Scotland, Trump blamed Hamas for the collapse of talks, accusing the group of acting in bad faith. “I think they want to die, and it’s very, very bad,” Trump said. “You’re gonna have to finish the job.”
The president’s remarks follow his administration’s decision to withdraw from U.S.-brokered ceasefire efforts. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff cited a lack of cooperation from Hamas and said the administration is now considering alternative approaches to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Just weeks earlier, Trump had expressed confidence that a diplomatic breakthrough was near.
The reversal reflects rising internal tension as both the Gaza negotiations and separate talks aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine have stalled — setbacks that have reportedly dimmed Trump’s ambitions for a Nobel Peace Prize, a longtime personal goal.
Despite the White House’s growing pessimism, regional mediators signaled that diplomacy is not dead. Egyptian and Qatari officials described the current pause as typical for such high-stakes negotiations. A senior Israeli official also said the process is ongoing, asserting that talks “have not at all” collapsed.
Still, Trump’s abrupt pullback sent tremors through Doha, where negotiations were taking place. One source involved in the talks described the shift as “an earthquake,” adding that “we’re dealing with the aftershock.”
Negotiators continue to face unresolved issues, including the timing of a ceasefire, the number of Palestinian prisoners to be released, and the future role of Israeli forces in Gaza.
Amid the diplomatic fallout, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened. A UN official described local residents as “walking corpses,” while Tunisian President Kais Saied, in a meeting with Trump’s Africa adviser Massad Boulos, presented images of emaciated children, some reportedly reduced to eating sand. “It is absolutely unacceptable,” Saied said. “This is a crime against all of humanity.”
Trump rejected criticism of his administration’s role, accusing Hamas of diverting aid and claiming the U.S. had gone unrecognized for its humanitarian contributions. “People don’t know this — and we didn’t get any thank you — but we contributed $60 million to food and supplies,” he said. “We hope the money gets there, because you know, that money gets taken. The food gets taken.”
However, according to a U.S. internal review, there is no widespread evidence that Hamas has misappropriated American aid.
Meanwhile, international pressure on Israel is intensifying. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as “indefensible,” and French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for France to support Palestinian statehood recognition at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio responded by calling Macron’s move “a slap in the face” to victims of the October 7 Hamas attack. Trump, while noting his admiration for the French leader, dismissed the development. “He’s a very good guy. I like him,” Trump said. “But that statement doesn’t carry weight.”
With peace prospects fading and humanitarian conditions worsening, Trump’s endorsement of a more aggressive Israeli strategy signals a defining pivot in U.S. posture toward the war in Gaza — from hopeful mediator to open supporter of military escalation.
