Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday signaled a sharp shift away from ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, declaring that the militant group has shown no real interest in reaching a deal.
Speaking publicly, Netanyahu said Israel was considering “alternative” strategies to achieve its objectives: securing the release of hostages held by Hamas and dismantling the group’s rule over Gaza. “We have to reassess the situation,” Netanyahu noted, implying a shift toward more aggressive action as talks continue to stall.
President Trump echoed that sentiment in remarks at the White House, saying it had become clear Hamas was unwilling to compromise.
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“Hamas really didn’t want to make a deal. I think they want to die. And it’s very bad. And it got to be to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job,” Trump told reporters, adding that Hamas leaders would now be “hunted down.”
The statements from both leaders come as conditions in Gaza grow increasingly dire. Widespread destruction, a collapsed infrastructure, and severe shortages of food and clean water have left most of the population homeless and on the brink of starvation. International agencies and humanitarian organizations have sounded alarms, urging all parties to halt the violence and allow for aid access.
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However, the latest comments from Netanyahu and Trump suggest that hopes for a ceasefire in the immediate future are fading fast. With negotiations seemingly off the table, attention now turns to what “alternative” actions Israel might take—and what implications that will have for Gaza’s already devastated civilian population.
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