President Trump said it was “too bad” that the Gaza ceasefire talks were cut short because Hamas didn’t seem ready to reach a truce.
“It was too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal,” Mr. Trump told reporters Friday before leaving for Scotland. “I think they want to die. And it’s very, very bad. It got to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job.”
Mr. Trump said Hamas didn’t want a peace agreement because “they know what happens after you get the final hostages.”
“They’re going to have to fight and they’re going to have to clean it up,” he said.
On Thursday, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said the U.S. stopped ceasefire talks with Hamas because the terrorist group “shows a lack of desire” to make a deal.
“While the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith,” Witkoff said in a statement. “We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.”
Hamas said it was surprised by Mr. Witkoff’s “negative remarks” and that it’s “keen to reach an agreement that ends the aggression and the suffering of our people in Gaza.”
The negotiating teams held weeks of talks in Qatar but made no breakthroughs for a ceasefire.
Israel also pulled out of negotiations with Hamas.
The deal under negotiation would’ve included a 60-day ceasefire with the release of 10 living hostages from Hamas and the remains of 18 others in phases where Palestinians would be released from Israeli prisons. More aid would be provided, and negotiations would continue for a lasting ceasefire.
There were disagreements over how to end the war. Hamas said it would release hostages only if Israel pulled out of Gaza. Israel said it wouldn’t agree to a deal unless Hamas disbanded.
Mr. Trump said he knew negotiations would get tough when fewer hostages remained. “Hamas knows what happens when they don’t have any bargaining chips,” he said.
“I said, ‘When you get down to 10 or 20, I don’t think Hamas is going to make a deal, because that means they have no protection.’ And basically that’s what happened,” he said. “Hamas didn’t want to make a deal.”
• This article was based in part on wire service reports.
