US President Donald Trump has blamed Hamas for the breakdown of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, claiming the group has no genuine interest in reaching a deal. Trump, speaking after US and Israeli negotiators withdrew from indirect talks in Qatar, said:
“It’s too bad. Hamas didn’t really want to make a deal. I think they want to die.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also accused Hamas of not acting “in good faith.” In response, senior Hamas official Bassem Naim accused Witkoff of misrepresenting the talks and aligning with Israeli interests.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that, together with the US, Israel is considering “alternative options” to rescue remaining hostages and dismantle Hamas’s rule in Gaza. Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir even called for a full military occupation of Gaza and the re-establishment of Israeli settlements.
Despite the setback, mediators Qatar and Egypt said they will continue “intensive efforts” to revive negotiations.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Gaza
As the conflict stretches into its 22nd month, more than 100 humanitarian organisations have warned of “mass starvation” in Gaza. According to Doctors Without Borders (MSF), 25% of the children and mothers it screened were malnourished, echoing UN data showing one in five children in Gaza City are suffering from malnutrition.
In a rare joint statement, leaders of Britain, France, and Germany urged Israel to immediately lift aid restrictions, calling the Gaza crisis a “humanitarian catastrophe that must end now.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres went further, calling the global inaction a “moral crisis.”
Though Israel said air drops of aid—managed by the UAE and Jordan—would resume soon, aid groups argue air drops are inadequate and dangerous. Previous operations resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths from falling crates, drowning, or stampedes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), created by Israel and the US, remains controversial. Aid groups have refused to cooperate, alleging the GHF supports Israeli military objectives. The UN reports over 750 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces near GHF distribution centers since May.
Death Toll Update
Gaza’s civil defence agency said at least 23 Palestinians were killed on Friday by Israeli strikes, with eight reportedly shot while seeking humanitarian aid.
The overall Palestinian death toll in Gaza has reached 59,676, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,219 people, with 251 hostages taken—49 still held in Gaza, including 27 believed dead, per Israeli military data.
